Japan Institute for National Fundamentals

　　　　　On December 2, the Japanese government decided on an additional sanction on North Korea over its nuclear test in September, expanding the range of nuclear and missile engineers and executives of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) subject to a ban on their reentry into Japan after their visits to North Korea. While the government fell short of announcing the number and names of new sanction targets, I have found that the new targets are a nuclear and missile engineer and six Chongryon executives. The nuclear and missile engineer is Lee Shi Gu, a former professor at Korea University in Japan.

Additional seven persons prohibited from reentering Japan
　　　　　The new sanction is this year’s second one following the first in February. The previous sanction was considerably severe, based on a 13-item proposal made last year by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Headquarters for North Korean Abductions. The latest sanction includes (1) the expansion of the range of persons subject to the reentry ban, (2) a ban on Japan-registered ships’ entry into Japan after calling at North Korean ports, and (3) the expansion of the scope of organizations and individuals that are involved in North Korean nuclear and missile programs and subjected to an asset freeze. The second and third ones are merely formal. The problem is how the scope of persons subject to the reentry ban has been expanded.
　　　　　The February sanction prohibited five nuclear missile engineers such as Pyeon Cheol Ho, an associate professor at the Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute, and seven Chongryon executives including Chairman Ho Jong Man from reentering Japan. While the government then did not publish any list of those subject to the reentry ban, I disclosed their names in this column and other articles and revealed that Japanese national universities have become a base for supplying North Korea with nuclear and missile development technology.
　　　　　My revelation led to Diet discussions on the government’s relevant responsibility. However, no action has been taken by the education ministry or Kyoto University of which the incumbent associate professor was subjected to the sanction.

Tokyo governor should cancel approval for Korea University
　　　　　For the latest sanction, the government failed to accept the LDP’s proposal that the reentry ban cover all Chongryon Central Committee members including local branch executives.
　　　　　Born in 1924, nuclear missile engineer Lee Shi Gu subjected to the reentry ban graduated from Kyoto University and studied nuclear physics under Dr. Koji Fushimi, a leading nuclear researcher in Japan, at the Osaka University Graduate School. Lee long served as professor at Korea University run by Chongryon. As the first chairman of the Korea Association of Science and Technology in Japan, he is known for his proactive collaboration in North Korea’s nuclear and missile development. Lee invited the late Hideo Itokawa, a professor emeritus at the University of Tokyo and an authority in space technology, to visit North Korea in 1986. He also invited Dr. Fushimi to North Korea in 1987.
　　　　　When I as chairman of the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnaped by North Korea (NARKN) met with Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike in September, I asked her to consider cancelling school approval for Korea University. The government’s decision to subject a former Korea University professor to the sanction indicates that Korea University has been a base for North Korea’s nuclear and missile development.
　　　　　The Tokyo metropolitan government should thoroughly investigate technological cooperation with North Korea by Lee and others related to Korea University and cancel the school approval that then Tokyo Governor Ryokichi Minobe gave in defiance of opposition from the central government in 1968.

Tsutomu Nishioka is a member of the Planning Committee at the Japan Institute for National Fundamentals and Professor at Tokyo Christian University.