Oddness of 'Kim' episode masks its gravity

Oddness of 'Kim' episode masks its gravity

TOKYO: A man believed to be Kim Jong-nam, the eldest son of
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il, attempted to enter Japan
illegally at Narita airport Tuesday only to have his attempt
foiled by immigration authorities. The supposed younger Kim was
deported to Beijing Friday after three days of detention.

The man reportedly possessed a forged Dominican Republic
passport and was accompanied by two women and a child. Justice
Minister Mayumi Moriyama decided to deport the four in line with
ordinary procedures, saying the ministry "could not confirm their
identity" after all.

Kim Jong-nam is cited as the leading candidate to succeed Kim
Jong-il as general secretary of the North Korean Workers Party.
If the deported man really is the younger Kim, then why would
such a man need to enter this country illegally? The man
reportedly said his visit was for sightseeing. If so, why did he
use a forged passport?

We are not satisfied with a government explanation that only
says it "could not confirm the identity." In that the incident
made major headlines, many people also suspect the government's
explanation.

First of all, the Justice Ministry is accountable for
presenting the truth of the incident to the people without
brushing aside their suspicions.

Even if the decision to deport was made after sufficient
interrogation, the question remains as to the man's response to
the decision. Also, where and how did he obtain the fake
passport?

If the man is indeed a North Korean VIP, it is hard to think
that he was trying to move around here on his own. There must
have been a group of people in Japan who would have taken care of
him he had managed to enter the country.

The forged passport reportedly showed that the man entered
Japan twice last year. We wonder if a thorough probe was made
into where the man planned to stay after achieving an illegal
entry.

Immigration authorities should clarify why they did not lodge
a complaint with police against the man on suspicion of illegal
entry.

The decision to deport the man to Beijing followed three-way
consultations involving the Justice Ministry, the Foreign
Ministry and the National Police Agency. According to some
government sources, the case was viewed in a political light to
prevent it from developing into an impediment to the resumption
of stalled negotiations between Japan and North Korea on
normalizing diplomatic relations. If so, the government must have
thought that a North Korean VIP was involved.

Progress in Japanese-North Korean negotiations for the
normalization of ties is definitely an important item on the
country's foreign affairs agenda. It must be remembered, however,
that there has been no breakthrough in clarifying the alleged
abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korean agents.

Despite Japan's considerate behavior, there is no guarantee
that North Korea will extend similar consideration in connection
with the kidnapping cases.

North Korea has not taken responsibility for the 1987 bombing
of a South Korean jetliner -- which killed 115 people -- and the
1999 intrusion of two North Korean spy boats into Japan's
territorial waters.

Although we understand delicate issues are involved, we must
point out that it is important to continue to adopt a just and
rational attitude toward North Korea. Without such a stance,
there can be no genuine progress in Japanese-North Korean
relations.

-- The Yomiuri Shimbun