Tokyo Court Orders North Korea to Pay Compensation to Migrants Deceived by Propaganda

North Korea Ordered to Pay Compensation to Victims of “Paradise on Earth” Scheme

A Tokyo court has ordered North Korea to pay 88 million Japanese yen ($570,000; £416,000) in compensation to four people who were lured to the country decades ago under a false promise of a better life.

The landmark ruling comes after years of legal proceedings against the isolated nation, which promoted itself as a “paradise on Earth” to ethnic Koreans living in Japan between 1959 and 1984. Instead of finding prosperity, the plaintiffs encountered harsh living conditions, forced labor, and severe restrictions on their personal freedoms.

“This is the first time a Japanese court has exercised its sovereignty against North Korea to recognize its wrongdoing,” said Atsushi Shiraki, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs. Despite the historic nature of Monday’s decision, legal experts acknowledge it remains largely symbolic, as there is no practical mechanism to enforce payment from the North Korean regime.

The case centers on victims of a massive resettlement program that targeted Zainichi Koreans—ethnic Koreans residing in Japan—with promises of free healthcare, education, and employment opportunities in North Korea. More than 90,000 people relocated under this scheme, only to discover a harsh reality far removed from the propaganda.

One plaintiff, Eiko Kawasaki, now 83, was just 17 when she traveled to North Korea in 1960. She managed to escape the country in 2003 after enduring decades of hardship. Kawasaki was among five individuals who initiated the lawsuit in 2018, though two have since passed away, with one still represented by family members.

During Monday’s ruling, Judge Taiichi Kamino acknowledged the profound impact of North Korea’s deception, stating, “It’s not an overstatement to say most of their lives were ruined by North Korea.”

The legal journey for the plaintiffs has been arduous. In 2022, a Tokyo district court initially rejected their claims, ruling that the case fell outside Japanese jurisdiction and that the statute of limitations had expired. However, this decision was overturned in 2023 when the Tokyo High Court determined that Japan did indeed have jurisdiction and that North Korea had violated the plaintiffs’ fundamental rights.

Throughout the proceedings, North Korea has consistently ignored the lawsuit. Leader Kim Jong Un never responded to summons issued by Japanese courts, highlighting the diplomatic isolation that makes enforcing such judgments nearly impossible.

Kenji Fukuda, another lawyer for the plaintiffs, emphasized the ruling’s significance while acknowledging the practical challenges of securing actual compensation from the regime.

The case sheds light on a dark chapter in Northeast Asian history that has often been overlooked in international discussions about North Korea’s human rights abuses. The resettlement program, which continued until 1984, was one of the largest organized migrations in the post-World War II era.

Survivors have reported being forced to work in farms and factories under grueling conditions, living under constant surveillance, and being denied the ability to leave the country. Many were separated from family members and subjected to political indoctrination.

The court’s decision comes amid continuing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and represents a rare legal victory for victims of North Korean human rights abuses. While the plaintiffs may never receive their awarded compensation, the ruling provides official recognition of their suffering and adds to the growing body of legal precedents addressing historical injustices in the region.

For survivors like Kawasaki, who spent decades trying to escape North Korea and return to Japan, the court’s acknowledgment of their experiences marks an important, if incomplete, form of justice for lives derailed by false promises of a paradise that never existed.