



A former wrestler turned politician,

Antonio Inoki is trying to pin down the most difficult

opponent of his career: Japan-North Korea relations

by Julian Ryall



A

ntonio Inoki is preparing some gags for his North Korean hosts when he arrives in Pyongyang to jointly host a two-day international wrestling event at the end of August.

After all, the former professional wrestler who has turned his hand to politics told a large audience at the FCCJ on Aug. 21 that laughter can be used to help bring down barriers and encourage friendship. Warming to his theme, the 71-year-old Inoki recounted a previous occasion on which he tickled Pyongyang dignitaries’ sense of humor, back in 1995, shortly after North Korea had fired missiles in the direction of Japan.

After letting out one of his trademark yells to get everyone’s attention, Inoki informed his hosts that while North Korea may have missiles pointed at Japan, it also has very beautiful women. Therefore, he went on, Japanese men were pointing their missiles back at North Korea.

“It is very important to go to North Korea,

to have a drink with them

and to be able to talk things through,”





Inoki did not recount whether the North Koreans provided anything more than polite laughter in return. But he really does need to work on his jokes if he is going to achieve his stated aim of using his own brand of diplomacy to enhance understanding between North Korea and Japan and promote peace.

Inoki, who entered politics in 1989 and is a member of the conservative Japan Restoration Party, has visited North Korea on 29 previous occasions. In 1995 he took part in a bout against Ric Flair, the American wrestler, at a wrestling extravaganza that was held in Pyongyang.

Confessing that he is “a little low on vitality” now, Inoki emphasized that he believes sporting diplomacy can heal old wounds. “For many years, I have been working towards world peace through sporting exchanges and, in diplomacy, I believe the most important factor is trust,” he said.

Inoki believes that communication is also required. “It is very important to go to North Korea, to have a drink with them and to be able to talk things through,” he said. “In that way we can learn about each other and understand each other better.”

The wrestling tournament is scheduled to take place at the 20,000-seat Ryugyong Chung Ju-yung Stadium in Pyongyang on Aug. 30 and 31, with wrestlers from France, Russia, Brazil and China taking part.

That will make it a fraction of the scale of his last wrestling endeavor inside North Korea, the 1995 tournament that attracted an estimated 340,000 spectators. The stadium used in 1995 is now being renovated and the event is required to stay within the bounds of the international sanctions that are still being imposed on North Korea, Inoki said. The sanctions are primarily financial, meaning that many of those involved in the trip are doing so on a voluntary basis.

It is not known whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will attend the event, although he has in the past shown a desire to be associated with famous sporting figures. In January, retired NBA star Dennis Rodman caught the world’s attention when he arranged an international basketball match to celebrate Kim’s birthday and declared the dictator to be his “friend for life.” Rodman also sang “Happy Birthday” to Kim ahead of the exhibition game and apparently partied on the dictator’s private island.

Inoki’s visit comes after the Japanese government eased some of the sanctions imposed during the 1990s in an effort to force Pyongyang to abolish its nuclear weapons and missile programs as well as to return dozens of Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korean agents.







Ideally, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

would himself go to North Korea to meet Kim

and solve many of the two nations’ problems



“The issue of the abductions is finally being discussed and I believe that it is important for both sides to have meaningful discussions to truly know each others’ thoughts and hearts,” Inoki said. “This is how we can achieve peace.”

Ideally, he added, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would himself go to North Korea to meet Kim and solve many of the two nations’ problems, although he admitted that the time might not yet be ripe for so dramatic a step. “Sporting exchanges have been connected with peace for a long time, so this sort of approach is already well understood,” Inoki said. “These are the sorts of channels that nobody can oppose.

“One door has to stay open,” he added. “For many years, all the doors between North Korea and Japan have been closed, but I believe we only live once and I need to continue to keep this door open through sporting exchanges.”❶

Julian Ryall is the Japan correspondent for the Daily Telegraph