PKM-3
NOTE VERBALE
The Korean Mission in Japan presents its compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affaire and, with reference to press reports of February 4, 1958 concerning those Koreans now under detention who reportedly desire to go to the northern part of Korea, has the honor to make the following representations;
According to the said reports, the Minister for Justice of Japan testified before a meeting of the Judicial Affairs Committee of the House of Councillors held on February 3, 1958, that, in the implementation of the mutual release and repatriation of the detainees, the Japanese Government was not considering the deportation of those Koreans desiring to go to "north Korea ", to the Republic of Korea "where persecution is awaiting them if they are deported thereto".
The mission wishes to be informed of the authenticity of the press reports in this regard, and if the story is trus, the Mission is obliged to lodge a strong protest with the Government of Japan for the following reasons;
It is pointed out that the above statement by the Minister for Justice not only disregards the agreement between the Republic of Korea and Japan concerning the mutual release of detainees, but is also at variance with the position taken by the Japanese delegation at meetings of the Republic of Korea-Japan Working Committee for the implementation of the terms agreed upon at the conclusion of the preliminary talks.
The Mission can hardly understand how the Minister for Justice arrived at such a conclusion as in his statement regarding a possible treatment in the Republic of Korea of the Koreans under reference upon their return to the Republic of Korea. The Mission is obliged to state that the Minister's remarks not only are unduly prejudiced against the Republic of Korea, but are also construed as purporting to create most adverse effect on the smooth implementation of the terms agreed upon in connection with the mutual release of detainees.
Reiterating that the Koreans under reference should be sent to the Republic of Korea without fail in accordance with the terms agreed upon between the two Governments, the Mission requests that the Ministry immediately take appropriate measures to rectify the situation thrown into confusion by the Minister's statement in Question so that a speedy implementation of the terms agreed upon may be made.

Tokyo, February 4, 1958