Published on July 30, 2019. This article introduces a dialogue between Takayama Masayuki and Inoue, discussing the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea and whether Japan should provide economic cooperation. It argues that Japan should offer no economic cooperation until all abductees are returned, and reexamines the very idea of compensation to North Korea in light of infrastructure built during Japanese rule, including the Supung Dam, and unpaid postwar loans.

July 30, 2019.
During the period of Japanese rule, Japan built various dams, including the Supung Dam, in the region that was then North Korea, and supported the supply of electricity.
Moreover, in fact, Japan also provided loans even after the war.
Yet since 1975, North Korea has not repaid them.
This is a chapter I published on June 28, 2018, under the title, “During the period of Japanese rule, Japan built various dams, including the Supung Dam, in the region that was then North Korea, and supported the supply of electricity.”
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
The preceding text is omitted.
Takayama.
According to The New York Times, the number of Japanese abductees is about one hundred, and at present, it is said that about thirty of them are alive.
North Korea will probably return these thirty people and then come to Japan only to extort money, but Japan does not know the total number of people they abducted.
In any case, Japan must insist, “Return everyone,” and until then, it must not provide any economic cooperation whatsoever.
If that happens, North Korea will end up confessing all the various crimes it has committed in the past.
In other words, negotiations must go as far as the question of whether there is any need to compensate North Korea.
During the period of Japanese rule, Japan built various dams, including the Supung Dam, in the region that was then North Korea, and supported the supply of electricity.
Moreover, in fact, Japan also provided loans even after the war.
Yet since 1975, North Korea has not repaid them.
Such legitimate loans that should be paid must also be settled properly.
If all of these are calculated, it will be shown before the whole world that the North is in no position at all to demand money from Japan.
Inoue.
That is exactly right.
This essay continues.