Kim Jong-un of North Korea has made a sudden donation of 300 million yuan to support overseas compatriots, drawing widespread attention.
On April 13, KCNA released a statement saying that Kim Jong-un announced a donation of 316.36 million yen to the General Federation of Koreans in Japan on that day—equivalent to approximately 14 million RMB—to fund education for children of Korean expatriates in Japan.
Since 1955, successive North Korean governments have made 172 donations to the Federation of Koreans in Japan, totaling as much as 50.3 billion yen. These funds have greatly supported the organization’s operations and development in Japan.
Public records indicate that the General Federation of Koreans in Japan is a post-World War II institution established by North Korea to manage its diaspora affairs in Japan. It was later transformed into a private entity and currently operates 60 Korean schools, one Korean university, and certain entertainment ventures. Due to the absence of diplomatic relations between Japan and North Korea, this organization performs some diplomatic functions.
However, due to international sanctions imposed by the United Nations, North Korea's financial support for this organization has significantly declined in recent years, leading to reduced identification among Koreans in Japan and an increasing number choosing to naturalize in South Korea or Japan.
Therefore, increasing donations to this organization not only helps maintain North Korea’s sole diplomatic channel in Japan but also strengthens its influence and ties with overseas compatriots, carrying significant political and diplomatic importance.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862414913169609/
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