Concerns Increasing over Radio for Abductees in N. Korea

Tokyo, July 27 (Jiji Press)–Concerns are mounting over the Shiokaze shortwave radio program for Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea, as the number of radio transmitters is dwindling. The Japanese support group broadcasting the program is calling for an increase in the transmitters, operated by Japan Broadcasting Corp., or NHK, so that it can continue the program, which started in 2005. “My sister, Rumi, how are you? All abduction victims, how are you doing?” said a recently broadcast message from Teruaki Masumoto, 70, brother of Rumiko, who was kidnapped in 1978 at age 24. The Investigation Commission on Missing Japanese Probably Related to North Korea broadcasts recorded messages for abduction victims every day late night or early morning. The time frame was chosen to make it easier for abductees to listen to the broadcasts without being noticed. Still, the number of shortwave radio transmitters for international services in Japan has decreased to five from the peak of 11 in 1992 amid the declining importance of such broadcasting as means of disseminating information. According to a survey released in May this year by South Korean broadcasting station Free North Korea Radio, 66 pct of the surveyed 75 people who defected from North Korea in 2020 or later said they had listened to foreign radio programs at least once a week. This shows that shortwave broadcasts reach people in North Korea. Shortwave radio is the most effective way to deliver information to North Korea, which has many mountainous areas, said Lee Si-young, head of the radio station. Lee, a defector from North Korea, decided to leave the country based on information from abroad. Information changes people and society, she said, expressing her wish to give courage to those in her homeland through the broadcasts. Lee collects donations to continue the radio service. In Japan, the Yamata Transmitting Station in Koga, Ibaraki Prefecture, is the only place that has shortwave radio transmitters for international broadcasting. According to NHK, shortwave radio broadcasting began in the country before World War II and played a core role in the country’s international broadcasting for a long time. More recently, the expansion of satellite broadcasting and the spread of the internet have led to the decrease in shortwave radio transmitters for international services. “We will properly maintain and operate the existing equipment,” an NHK official said. Still, concerns have been raised that the number of transmitters will drop further due to the aging of equipment. The support group broadcasts the Shiokaze program simultaneously on two frequencies to counter jamming by North Korea. The group pays NHK up to 4 million yen in monthly fees related to the broadcasting, covering the costs with commissions paid by the Japanese government and donations. As tensions in the Middle East have intensified, however, broadcasting for the region was expanded in March, leaving an inadequate number of transmitters at the Yamata station. The support group has therefore become unable to broadcast Shiokaze on two frequencies simultaneously. “The Middle East is in an emergency, but an emergency has continued all along in North Korea,” group executive Tatsuru Murao said. “Equipment should be added and expanded, with government involvement. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]