The alleged abductions of Japanese by North Korean agents has partly made Tokyo reluctant to extend food aid to the famine-threatened nation. However, this has not stopped some Japanese and Korean residents here from offering help, mainly through nongovernmental organizations.
But a pro-Seoul Korean organization, as well as other Japanese activists, are reluctant to offer emergency relief because of doubts about the Stalinist state and suspicions that the aid may not reach those who really need help. Since 1995, the first year when major floods hit the country, more than 100 nongovernmental organizations in Japan have sent relief materials to North Korea, according to the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryun). Chongryun's headquarters in Tokyo has taken on the role of North Korea's de facto embassy in Japan.
Most of the relief goods have been transported by sea from Niigata to the North Korean east coast city of Wonsan. There are two to three regular monthly liner services across the Sea of Japan. In some cases, Japanese NGOs bought inexpensive rice in Thailand and sent it from there, Chongryun said.