Korean specialist named consul general in Shenyang

0 Comments | Asian Political News, July 22, 2002

TOKYO, July 15 Kyodo

The Foreign Ministry on Monday appointed Toshiro Ogawauchi, a specialist on the Korean Peninsula at the ministry, as the new consul general in Shenyang, China, replacing Kiyoshi Okazaki, who has been recalled to Japan for inappropriate handling of the seizure by Chinese police of five North Korean asylum seekers at the consulate in May, the ministry said.

This is the first time that a specialist on the Korean Peninsula has been appointed as the consul general in Shenyang.

Ogawauchi, senior assistant for information analysis of the First Analysis Division of the Intelligence and Analysis Bureau, was chosen as part of the ministry's efforts to ensure the consulate is better able to react to emergency and security situations since it covers areas where thousands of North Koreans who have fled to China are believed hiding.

Ogawauchi, a Korean language specialist, has had two postings at the Japanese Embassy in South Korea, the ministry said.

Okazaki, a Chinese speaker, has only had postings in China.

The five North Koreans entered the Japanese Consulate General in Shenyang in northeastern China on May 8 seeking asylum, but were forcibly removed by Chinese police officers in front of some consulate employees and were detained for about two weeks before being sent to South Korea via the Philippines.

The incident triggered a diplomatic row between Tokyo and Beijing, with the Japanese government accusing the Chinese police officers of entering the consulate without permission but Beijing denying the allegation.