North Korea Furious at Japan for Mask Discrimination Against Korean Schools, Calling It "Inhumane Outrage"

Japanese Authorities Exclude Korean Schools from Mask Distribution
Amid Growing Discrimination Controversy, They Late Reverse Decision
North Korea Demands "Japanese Authorities Apologize to Zainichi Koreans"

North Korea's Korean Central TV reported on the 14th that, as the COVID-19 pandemic prolongs, strict double and triple lockdown measures must be established to prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases. The broadcast footage shows people wearing protective suits packaging masks.

Regarding the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), North Korea has condemned recent moves in Japan to discriminate against Zainichi Korean students by selectively distributing masks, calling it an "inhumane act" and demanding an apology from Japanese authorities.

On the 16th, North Korea's state-run media, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), in an article titled "The Responsibility for the Situation Lies with Japanese Authorities," referred to Saitama City's initial exclusion of Korean schools from the distribution of COVID-19 prevention masks, which was later reversed. The article stated, "Japanese authorities should not pretend this is merely a local government issue but must apologize to all Zainichi Koreans for this outrageous act."

The report criticized, "Recently, Saitama city authorities committed an inhumane act by distributing masks to kindergartens and daycare centers in the city while excluding only the kindergarten classes of Korean schools," adding, "They even made provocative and insulting remarks that 'masks might be misused' and 'distributed masks could be resold,' which damages the dignity of Zainichi Koreans."

It continued, "After officials of the Chongryon (General Association of Korean Residents in Japan) and Zainichi Koreans launched a strong protest campaign over three days, and as condemnation and criticism from domestic and international media and public opinion intensified, the authorities finally yielded and announced they would distribute masks to the kindergarten classes of Korean schools as well. However, the mayor has not apologized for this inhumane and unkind ethnic discrimination."

The article emphasized, "This incident is not merely about a few masks but concerns the lives and dignity of all Zainichi Koreans," and warned, "The 'virus' of reactionary nationalism, ethnic exclusivism, and anti-Korean hatred is infecting Japanese society as a whole."

It further stressed, "Protecting the life safety, rights, and interests of Zainichi Koreans, who are direct victims of Japanese colonial rule and their descendants, as well as their children, is a legal obligation and historical responsibility of Japanese authorities."

Meanwhile, Saitama City had earlier, starting from the 9th, distributed stockpiled masks to about 1,000 child-related facilities such as kindergartens and after-school clubs, excluding Korean schools.

In response, representatives of Saitama Korean schools visited Saitama City Hall to protest, and in South Korea, Professor Seo Kyung-duk of Sungshin Women's University and civic groups launched a campaign to send masks to Korean schools, sparking a controversy.

Subsequently, Saitama City announced on the 13th that it would add the kindergarten and elementary school divisions of Korean schools to the mask distribution targets.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.