#371: 9 University Students Hijack A Japanese Plane to North Korea
In an episode of Rotten Mango, host Stephanie Soo recounts the harrowing 1970 hijacking of a Japanese flight by nine university students attempting to divert the plane to Cuba. They ultimately landed in North Korea due to fuel limitations.
Soo details the tense negotiations between authorities, including a hostage exchange involving the Japanese vice minister of transport. She explores the hijackers' lives in North Korea, from their initially comfortable treatment to suspected coercion into illicit activities. Soo implies their ongoing confinement serves to ensure cooperation from the group and their families.
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The Hijacking Attempt to Cuba
The hijackers from the Red Army militant group diligently planned to seize a plane and divert it to Cuba for military training. However, as Stephanie Soo recounts, they faced unforeseen logistical issues, such as lacking fuel range, which forced them to change course to North Korea mid-hijacking.
Negotiating the Hostage Exchange
After a tense 50-hour standoff while negotiations unfolded, authorities from Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. agreed to an unorthodox exchange. As Soo explains, the vice minister of transport volunteered himself, leading to a carefully orchestrated swap where he and a hijacker walked past each other on the plane's stairs.
Life for Hijackers in North Korea
Initially warmly received in North Korea, the hijackers were given comfortable housing and amenities. However, Soo notes they underwent reeducation, shifting their allegiance from a Japanese revolution to supporting Kim Il-sung's Korean reunification vision. Marriages were arranged with Japanese women, conceivably to integrate them further.
Alleged Covert Operations Involvement
North Korea is suspected of coercively employing the hijackers and families in counterfeiting currency and other illicit global operations, exploiting the wives' Japanese passports. Despite requests to leave, Soo suggests the hijackers remain confined to ensure cooperation, with children kept as leverage.
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Counterarguments
- The hijackers' initial intention to go to Cuba might not have been solely for military training; there could have been political motivations or other strategic reasons for choosing Cuba initially.
- The change of course to North Korea might not have been solely due to logistical issues like fuel range; there could have been other contributing factors or decisions made by the hijackers in response to the situation.
- The description of the hostage exchange as "unorthodox" is subjective; some might argue that in situations with high stakes, such as hijackings, unconventional methods are sometimes necessary and thus not out of the ordinary.
- The vice minister of transport's volunteering could be seen not just as a noble act but also as a strategic move by the authorities to resolve the situation.
- The claim that the hijackers were "warmly received" in North Korea could be challenged by suggesting that the reception was politically motivated and not necessarily indicative of genuine hospitality.
- The reeducation of the hijackers could be interpreted differently, perhaps as a form of indoctrination or political manipulation rather than a benign shift in allegiance.
- The arranged marriages with Japanese women could be viewed critically as a violation of personal freedoms, rather than a simple integration effort.
- The involvement of the hijackers in illicit operations, if true, could be criticized as a form of state-sponsored exploitation and a serious violation of human rights.
- The claim that the hijackers remain confined and their children are kept as leverage could be challenged by suggesting that there may be more complexity to their situation, including possible ideological alignment with North Korea or other reasons for their continued residence there.
Actionables
- You can deepen your understanding of international relations by researching the historical context of countries involved in hostage situations. Start by looking at the diplomatic history between Japan, South Korea, the U.S., and North Korea to get a sense of how international crises are managed and resolved. This could involve reading books or articles on foreign policy, watching documentaries, or taking online courses focused on international diplomacy.
- Enhance your awareness of human rights issues by volunteering with organizations that support victims of coercive control. Find local or international groups that work with individuals who have been affected by situations like those faced by the hijackers and their families. Volunteering could range from helping with awareness campaigns, fundraising, or providing support services to affected individuals.
- Cultivate critical thinking about media narratives by comparing different sources reporting on the same event. Take an incident like the hijacking and read reports from various international news outlets, noting the differences in how the story is told. This exercise can help you understand bias and perspective in reporting, which is crucial for forming a well-rounded view of complex geopolitical events.
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The hijacking incident and failed attempt to fly to Cuba
A group of hijackers, associated with the Red Army—a militant subgroup of the Communist League in Japan—planned an ambitious hijacking of a plane to Cuba for military training to support their revolutionary goals. The scheme showcased the hijackers’ determination but also their lack of foresight regarding the practical logistics of their venture.
The hijackers meticulously planned the hijacking, including wearing disguises, using fake names, and bringing various weapons and explosives onboard the plane.
Stephanie Soo recounts that the hijackers had practiced for the hijacking in a classroom set up to resemble the inside of an airplane. The goal was clear: they intended to take the plane to Cuba. However, it was revealed during the actual hijacking that they faced unexpected logistical challenges.
During the hijacking, the hijackers faced unexpected challenges, such as the plane not having enough fuel to reach Cuba, leading them to change their destination to North Korea.
On the day of the hijacking, the hijackers, members of the Red Army, were informed by the captain that the Boeing 727 did not have the range to fly directly to Cuba without multiple refueling stops. The plane’s maximum range was roughly 3,100 miles under perfect conditions, thereby needing two to three stops to refuel, or it would plummet into the ocean. This threw a wrench into their plan of reaching Cuba, implicitly leading them to change course.
Soo explains their intentions and the grave miscalculations that ensued. While the hijackers initially announced their desire to divert the plane to Cuba, they quickly discovered the technical impossibility due to the required refueling stops. South Korea further complicated their plan by refusing to let them refuel the plane, resulting in their aircraft being parked for 50 hours.
The hijackers’ revolutionary ambition led them to commandeer a plane, all while lacking the clear logistical preparations for such a long voyage. The hijackers’ objectives to overthrow the Japanese government, incite a communist revolution, and establish international ...
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The hijacking incident and failed attempt to fly to Cuba
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Clarifications
- The Red Army was a militant group in Japan known for its radical leftist ideology and violent actions in the 1970s. The group was an offshoot of the Japanese Communist League-Red Army Faction, which aimed to overthrow the Japanese government and incite a communist revolution. The Red Army was involved in various acts of terrorism, including hijackings and bombings, to further their revolutionary goals. The group's activities were part of the broader leftist militant movements that were active in Japan during that period.
- The Boeing 727, a popular commercial jet, had a maximum range of around 3,100 miles under ideal conditions. Due to this limited range, the plane required two to three refueling stops to reach distant destinations like Cuba. Without these stops, the aircraft risked running out of fuel mid-flight, posing a serious safety concern. In the context of the hijacking incident, the hijackers' plan to fly directly to Cuba was hindered by the need for refueling stops, leading to a change in their intended destination.
- The DMZ, or Demilitarized Zone, is a heavily fortified buffer zone that separates North and South Korea. It is one of the most heavily militarized borders in the world, established after the Korean War to serve as a ceasefire line. North Korean airspace is the airspace controlled by North Kore ...
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The negotiations and exchange of the hostages for the vice minister
In a tense international crisis, authorities from Japan, South Korea, and the United States collaborated on a delicate negotiation process with hijackers, which resulted in an unusual hostage exchange to secure the release of hostages.
Authorities in Japan, South America, and the US collaborated to negotiate with the hijackers and secure the release of the hostages.
The hijacking situation involved a standoff that lasted over 50 hours, with the hijackers demanding to be taken to North Korea to receive military training to start a revolution in Japan. The authorities, refusing to allow the aircraft to refuel initially, worked to negotiate with the hijackers and considered various factors, including a risky offer of safety from North Korea for the aircraft and its occupants. The Japanese ambassador to Korea tried to reason with the hijackers, while Japan deliberated on its decision amidst North Korea's unusual assurance of safety due to the lack public diplomatic relations between the two countries.
After a tense standoff lasting over 50 hours, the authorities agreed to exchange the vice minister of transport for the remaining hostages, in a carefully orchestrated hostage swap.
The negotiations culminated with the agreement that the vice minister of transport would be exchanged for all the remaining hostages. Vice Minister Yamamura, respecting Japanese values and facing the belief that his career was tarnished due to a perceived failure to protect constituents, offered himself up for the exchange. With international concern looming over what would happen to the vice minister, authorities from Japan, South Korea, and potentially the United States utilized the opportunity when the plane landed for refueling in Fukuoka to collaborate on a plan. They were unable to stop or storm the plane due to the hijackers' possession of explosives, so they quickly conceived a ruse to disguise Kimpo Airport in Seoul as a North Korean airport to deceive the hijackers.
The situation on the plane grew dire—with passengers tied to their seats amid unbearable conditions such as heat, poor ventilation, and non-functioning toilets—the hijackers ultimately ...
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Counterarguments
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Actionables
- You can enhance your negotiation skills by practicing with a friend where you simulate high-stakes scenarios. Set up a role-play where one person acts as a negotiator and the other as an opposition with specific demands. The goal is to reach a mutually acceptable resolution without giving in to the initial demands, mirroring the delicate balance of real-world negotiations.
- Develop your problem-solving abilities by creating a game where you must devise creative solutions under time pressure. Use a timer and a set of random objects or scenarios, and challenge yourself to come up with an innovative solution before time runs out. This mimics the quick thinking required in critical situations.
- Improve your ability to handle tension by engaging ...
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The hijackers' lives and activities in North Korea after arriving there
After arriving in North Korea, the lives of the hijackers underwent a radical transformation as they were absorbed into the fabric of the isolated country.
Comforts and Indoctrination
Initially, the hijackers were anxious about their reception in North Korea, fearing possible imprisonment or expulsion, but they were greeted warmly and treated like heroes. They were given comfortable living conditions in a gated community, complete with access to a nurse, doctor, nursery teacher, and helpers. They had private chefs and a shop for groceries at no cost. However, their lives were also tightly controlled, and they were subjected to indoctrination.
Shifting Loyalties and Purpose
The hijackers had to relinquish their plans for a Japanese revolution and pledge allegiance to North Korea’s goals of global communism under Kim Il-sung’s leadership. They were put through reeducation to realign their beliefs and missions, shifting their focus to supporting the reunification of Korea under Kim Il-sung and spreading his ideology to Japan and broader parts of Europe. Poems written to Kim Il-sung reflected their loyalty and gratitude, and their new status as soldiers entrusted with expanding the North Korean vision.
Over time, the hijackers' revolution was no longer about Japan; instead, it was about securing the leadership of Kim Il-sung in North and South Korea.
Marriage and Family Ties
The integration of the hijackers into North Korean society was further solidified by their marriages to Japanese women, who were allegedly kidnapped by North Korea as part of Operation Marriage, a secret scheme to provide brides for the hijackers. Stephanie Soo mentions that almost all the hijackers started families within a year o ...
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Counterarguments
- The warm welcome and hero treatment could be seen as a strategic move by North Korea to exploit the hijackers for propaganda purposes.
- Comfortable living conditions might be relative and could still be considered restrictive compared to the freedoms they had before, especially given the tightly controlled nature of their lives.
- Indoctrination is a form of psychological manipulation, and the hijackers' apparent loyalty could be questioned as potentially being the result of coercion.
- The pledge of allegiance to North Korea's goals could be seen as a survival strategy rather than a genuine shift in beliefs.
- The focus on supporting the reunification of Korea under Kim Il-sung might not reflect the hijackers' true intentions but rather the agenda imposed upon them by the North Korean regime.
- Marriages to Japanese women, especially if they were part of an alleged kidnapping scheme, raise ethical concerns and question the voluntariness of these unions.
- The quick start of families could be interpreted as anoth ...
Actionables
- Explore the power of storytelling by writing a short story or creating a comic strip that illustrates a dramatic transformation, similar to the hijackers' shift in identity and purpose. This exercise can help you understand the emotional and psychological journey of a character who undergoes a significant change in beliefs and lifestyle. For example, you might create a character who moves to a new country and adopts entirely new cultural values, exploring the challenges and growth they experience.
- Reflect on the concept of allegiance in your own life by journaling about the organizations, communities, or ideologies to which you feel a strong commitment. Consider how these affiliations shape your actions and identity. You could write about your dedication to a sports team, a social cause, or a professional organization, and how this impacts your daily decisions and sense of self.
- Engage with the idea o ...
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The alleged use of the hijackers and their families as covert operatives by North Korea
North Korea is suspected of manipulating the hijackers and their families into serving as a clandestine network to carry out illicit global activities, with the distribution of counterfeit currency and reported abductions being among the cited operations.
The hijackers, who have been living in North Korea since the hijacking and are still requesting to return to Japan, appear to remain under the control of North Korea against their will. Yoshimi Tanaka, one of the hijackers, found himself caught in Thailand for handling counterfeit U.S. currency, known as supernotes. He was extradited to Japan and passed away in prison due to liver-inflicted illness in 2007.
Stephanie Soo puts forward the notion that the hijackers may be operating as North Korean agents engaged in counterfeiting projects and suggests a broader involvement in such covert operations.
North Korea exploiting the hijackers' families
The hijackers' Japanese spouses, endowed with North Korean diplomatic passports, reportedly travel to various countries, predominantly around Europe. Utilizing their Japanese passports, they allegedly engage in undisclosed activities that support North Korea's covert operations.
Such a strategy, which leverages the wives' access to Japanese passports, facilitates their movement and operation across different countries unimpeded, allowing North Korea to extend its clandestine activities internationally.
Retention of the hijackers in North Korea despite ...
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The alleged use of the hijackers and their families as covert operatives by North Korea
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Counterarguments
- The suspicion of North Korea using hijackers and their families as operatives may be based on circumstantial evidence rather than direct proof, and alternative explanations for their activities could exist.
- The notion that the hijackers are living in North Korea against their will could be disputed by arguments that they have been integrated into North Korean society and may not wish to return to Japan.
- The idea that the hijackers are operating as agents for counterfeiting could be countered by the lack of public evidence directly linking them to such operations.
- The use of Japanese spouses for covert operations could be challenged by suggesting that their travel might be for legitimate personal or diplomatic reasons.
- The retention of hijackers in North Korea could be argued as a protective measure by the state, rather than for the purpose of exploiting their skills for illicit activities.
- The claim that children ar ...
Actionables
- You can raise awareness by writing a blog post or social media content that highlights the human rights issues implicit in the use of forced operatives, focusing on personal stories to humanize the issue and encourage empathy and action from readers.
- By sharing real-life accounts and the emotional impact on individuals and families, you can make the distant political issue feel closer to home, potentially motivating others to learn more or get involved in human rights advocacy. For example, you could write about the psychological effects on families when a member is coerced into illegal activities, drawing parallels to universally relatable experiences like separation or loss.
- Start a virtual book club that reads and discusses novels and non-fiction works dealing with themes of coercion, espionage, and political manipulation to deepen understanding and empathy for those living under oppressive regimes.
- This can be a way to engage with the topic on a more personal level, as literature often provides a window into the emotional and psychological experiences of characters in similar situations. For instance, you could select a book like "The Orphan Master's Son" by Adam Johnson, which, while fictional, offers insight into life in North Korea and the use of state power over individuals.
- Encourage critical thinking by creating a simple online ...
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