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ANNUAL REPORT
1958
JAPAN AND KOREA
The representations made previously by the ICRC in behalf of persons detained or interned in Japan and the Republic of Korea (South Korea ) led to some positive results in 1958. On December 31, 1957, the Governments in Tokyo and Seoul signed an agreement relating to various questions outstanding between the two countries, in particular the situation of Koreans interned in Omura Camp (Japan ) and Japanese fishermen held in Pusan (Republic of Korea ). The agreement resulted in the release of a number of Koreans in Japan and the repatriation of those who wished to return to the Republic of Korea. Further, in the early months of the year, 922 Japanese fishermen held in Pusan were repatriated to Japan.
A number of Koreans are still, however, interned in Japan and the International Committee's delegate in Tokyo, Mr. H. Angst, continued his visits to Omura Camp. About a hundred internees in the camp wished to go to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea ).
The delegate distributed a cash donation or 2,500 dollars from the Red Cross of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which was shared equally without distinction between all Koreans interned in Omura Camp to enable them to purchase extra food and small comforts.
In July, the internees who had been detained for over three years were released on parole. The matter of the repatriation of those who had expressed the wish to proceed to North Korea still remained in abeyance.
On October 23, Mr. Angst, accompanied by Mr. Inoue and Mr. Kakigawa of the Japanese Red Cross, visited the Kawasaki Emigration Centre, where 52 persons of various nationalities were interned. He returned to Omura Camp at Christmas to distribute relief supplies and gifts to the internees. The ICRC also opened various enquiries who disappeared during the war and the subsequent events. These searches were made in Japan, the two Republics of Korea and the People's Republic of China.