This Plot Just Got Thicker

Japan has been understandably insistent on getting a good explanation about the fate of its citizens who were kidnapped by North Korea, to the point of a near-fever pitch among the Japanese public. Political pressure for sanctions had already been building. Get ready for that pressure to reach critical mass now.

Last month, North Korea handed Japan what it claimed were the remains of abductee Megumi Yokota. Well, the tests are back, and they’re not Megumi’s remains. Let’s see them try to explain this one. More here and here.

It’s hard to see how they will dodge the sanctions bullet this time. Furthermore, as James suggests, fake remains suggest a live victim, since it wouldn’t seem difficult to dig up and cremate a dead person’s remains if your only goal was to conceal the cause of death.

A big tip of the moja and many thanks to reader James Chen.

UPDATE: Check out Barry Briggs’s post at NKZone, and be sure to note Dr. Lankov’s comment. I suspect he’s right. If the Japanese insist on Megumi’s bones, they’ll get them. If I had to guess, I’d guess she’s alive. At least for now. I’m a big believer in pressuring North Korea, but I make an exception in this case. In any event, the point of pressure is to weaken the system, not to anesthetize the injuries it inflicts.

Never underestimate the psychopathic depravity of these people.