Japan Court Ruling on North Korea Denies 'Paradise' Claim

Japan court ruling on North Korea has marked a significant moment for accountability over historic human rights abuses tied to the so-called “Paradise on Earth” campaign. On January 26, 2026, a Japanese district court held the North Korean government responsible for deceiving and abusing Koreans and Japanese citizens who were persuaded to relocate to North Korea. Judges ordered North Korea to pay 22 million yen, roughly US$142,000, to each plaintiff, acknowledging decades of suffering caused by state-led deception and repression.

Eighty-three-year-old Eiko Kawasaki and three other plaintiffs filed the lawsuit in 2018, arguing that false promises of safety, stability, and prosperity led to years of confinement and abuse. Court findings confirmed that relocation was not voluntary in any meaningful sense, but rather the result of systematic misinformation and manipulation.

“Paradise On Earth” Campaign And Forced Migration Between 1959 and 1984, approximately 93,000 people, mostly Zainichi Koreans and some Japanese nationals, were encouraged to move from Japan to North Korea. Authorities in Pyongyang relied heavily on Chongryon, a pro-North Korea organization in Japan, to promote the campaign. Messaging promised housing, employment, education, and food security, presenting North Korea as an ideal homeland.

Reality proved devastating. Survivors described a tightly controlled society where movement, speech, education, and employment choices were dictated by the state. Food shortages were routine, communication with relatives in Japan was restricted, and suspected dissent often resulted in imprisonment, forced labor, enforced disappearance, or death.

Survivor Testimony And Legal Turning Point Eiko Kawasaki arrived in North Korea in 1960 at the age of 17 and remained trapped for 43 years before escaping in 2003. Her testimony formed a central pillar of the case, illustrating the long-term consequences of the deception.

A 2022 ruling initially dismissed the case, citing jurisdictional limits and statutes of limitation. That decision was overturned in 2023 when a High Court affirmed Japanese jurisdiction and recognized violations of fundamental rights by North Korean authorities. Case remand to the district court focused solely on damages, leading to the January 2026 judgment.

North Korean authorities did not participate in proceedings, complicating enforcement of compensation but not diminishing the legal significance of the ruling.

Broader Human Rights Implications North Korea remains widely regarded as one of the most repressive states globally. A 2014 investigation by the United Nations Commission of Inquiry concluded that the government committed crimes against humanity through widespread and systematic abuses.

Japanese authorities are now under pressure to use this ruling as a basis for renewed diplomatic and legal efforts aimed at supporting remaining survivors and families seeking return to Japan.

Legal Recognition Without Closure Judicial recognition of harm suffered under the “Paradise on Earth” campaign represents a powerful step toward historical accountability. Enforcement challenges remain substantial, yet the ruling establishes an authoritative legal record that rejects North Korea’s narrative and validates survivor experiences. Continued advocacy and international cooperation will determine whether symbolic justice can translate into tangible outcomes for victims and their families.