OSAKA -- Korean residents of Japan expressed concern Friday over what they feel has been excessive coverage by the Japanese media of the North Korean abductions but comparatively scarce debate over Japan's legacy of its colonial rule of the Korean peninsula.
"The excessive coverage of the abduction issue is partially due to rightwing elements in the media, and by rightwing politicians who support the families," said Jung Woo Suh, president of the Human Rights Association for Koreans in Japan. "These people are manipulating the abduction issue and the families, whipping up public anger in order to avoid a serious debate over Japan's own past actions on the Korean peninsula."
Since Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's historic visit to North Korea on Tuesday, most Japanese newspapers and TV stations have given heavy coverage to the families and their anger against only North Korea and the Japanese government.
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