Comments on: The Pot Calling the Kettle Black http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/ Korea... in Blog Format Mon, 1 Dec 2008 23:37:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Uri Onara http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71489 Uri Onara Wed, 21 Feb 2007 13:24:08 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71489 I think some of you may have the wrong take on what is going on here in Japan. I am a long-time resident doing PhD fieldwork among the Korean community here. The Jp government is trying to show the public it is taking steps against North Korea because the abduction issue is at the top of PM Abe's agenda (along with revising the constitution) -- but there is little they can do, other than round up leaders in the Chongryun community -- on charges that fall far short of espionage (e.g., tax evasion). Don't let KCNA's reaction fool you into thinking most of the Zainichi here are spies, even if some are, or that harrassment isn't real. (By the way, Jan reporting by KCNA on the ant-Chongryun campaign was way up. Why? The DPRK is hurting from financial losses from Zainichi due to Japanese sanctions. But also right-wing and racist attacks on "north" Koreant innocents is sadly up -- the true part of KCNA propaganda). Rank and file "pro-North" Koreans have been wavering in commitment for years. Remember: they are "North" Koreans by default, not having been given South Korean citizenship nor wanting to become Japanese (a hard choice). Most were born in Japan (many are 3rd generation) stuck with the "pro-North" label because of their grandparents' stupid choices. Saying "all" these Koreans born in Japan should be "expelled" is quite misguided and almost as insensitive as Japanese racists saying they should "go home." Japan IS their home. The 90,000 who loved the DPRK already went there. I think some of you may have the wrong take on what is going on here in Japan. I am a long-time resident doing PhD fieldwork among the Korean community here. The Jp government is trying to show the public it is taking steps against North Korea because the abduction issue is at the top of PM Abe’s agenda (along with revising the constitution) — but there is little they can do, other than round up leaders in the Chongryun community — on charges that fall far short of espionage (e.g., tax evasion). Don’t let KCNA’s reaction fool you into thinking most of the Zainichi here are spies, even if some are, or that harrassment isn’t real. (By the way, Jan reporting by KCNA on the ant-Chongryun campaign was way up. Why? The DPRK is hurting from financial losses from Zainichi due to Japanese sanctions. But also right-wing and racist attacks on “north” Koreant innocents is sadly up — the true part of KCNA propaganda). Rank and file “pro-North” Koreans have been wavering in commitment for years. Remember: they are “North” Koreans by default, not having been given South Korean citizenship nor wanting to become Japanese (a hard choice). Most were born in Japan (many are 3rd generation) stuck with the “pro-North” label because of their grandparents’ stupid choices. Saying “all” these Koreans born in Japan should be “expelled” is quite misguided and almost as insensitive as Japanese racists saying they should “go home.” Japan IS their home. The 90,000 who loved the DPRK already went there.

]]> By: michael http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71291 michael Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:47:05 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71291 You know the South Korean (chaebol and government) would love to do the same…. Aiishh... :| You know the South Korean (chaebol and government) would love to do the same….

Aiishh… :|

]]> By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71290 SomeguyinKorea Tue, 20 Feb 2007 00:37:16 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71290 "You know the South Koreans would love to do the same…." Looking at the number of Hondas and Lexus on Korean roads, I'm not so sure that's true anymore. “You know the South Koreans would love to do the same….”

Looking at the number of Hondas and Lexus on Korean roads, I’m not so sure that’s true anymore.

]]> By: michael http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71285 michael Mon, 19 Feb 2007 23:47:32 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71285 "Kim Jong-il bans Japanese cars in North Korea" http://frankfurt-auto-show.autoblog.com/2007/02/19/kim-jong-il-bans-japanese-cars-in-north-korea/ You know the South Koreans would love to do the same.... “Kim Jong-il bans Japanese cars in North Korea”
http://frankfurt-auto-show.aut.....rth-korea/

You know the South Koreans would love to do the same….

]]> By: SomeguyinKorea http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71281 SomeguyinKorea Mon, 19 Feb 2007 23:33:40 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71281 The irony is that North Korea is very suspicious of its Japanese immigrants/defectors, so much so that it has created some friction between the North Korean government and Chongryeong, the pro-North Korean association in Japan. The irony is that North Korea is very suspicious of its Japanese immigrants/defectors, so much so that it has created some friction between the North Korean government and Chongryeong, the pro-North Korean association in Japan.

]]> By: Sonagi http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71227 Sonagi Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:45:53 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71227 Slim pickins' for bloggers during the big holiday, I guess. Slim pickins’ for bloggers during the big holiday, I guess.

]]> By: Zonath http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71219 Zonath Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:43:43 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71219 So why does North Korea have to get this stuff from Japan? After all, isn't South Korea more than willing to supply the North with it? So why does North Korea have to get this stuff from Japan? After all, isn’t South Korea more than willing to supply the North with it?

]]> By: Richardson http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71212 Richardson Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:50:52 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71212 If you read KCNA every day there could be a related post just about every day. This is nothing new. If you read KCNA every day there could be a related post just about every day. This is nothing new.

]]> By: railwaycharm http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71200 railwaycharm Mon, 19 Feb 2007 13:21:13 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71200 Beats the shit outta me. The Japanese have a pair and are doing their part. I guess they were not too keen on the subway poisoning…. Beats the shit outta me. The Japanese have a pair and are doing their part. I guess they were not too keen on the subway poisoning….

]]> By: The Ties That Compensate : Left Flank http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71192 The Ties That Compensate : Left Flank Mon, 19 Feb 2007 12:12:15 +0000 http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/02/19/the-pot-calling-the-kettle-black/#comment-71192 [...] TMH’s R. Elgin and Occidentalism’s Matt both point out the hypocrisy of the DPRK Foreign Ministry’s condemnation of Japan’s crackdown of Chongryon, a dodgy group representing ethnic Koreans in Japan. [...] [...] TMH’s R. Elgin and Occidentalism’s Matt both point out the hypocrisy of the DPRK Foreign Ministry’s condemnation of Japan’s crackdown of Chongryon, a dodgy group representing ethnic Koreans in Japan. [...]

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