The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, abbreviated as Chongryon or Chōsen Sōren , is one of two main organisations for Zainichi Koreans, the other being Mindan. It has close ties to North Korea and functions as North Korea's de facto embassy in Japan, as there are no diplomatic relations between the two countries. The organisation is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, and there are prefectural and regional head offices and branches throughout Japan.
Former headquarters of Ch'ongryŏn, Chiyoda, Tokyo
Classroom at Tokyo Korean High School with photographs of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il
Koreans in Japan comprise ethnic Koreans who have permanent residency status in Japan or who have become Japanese citizens, and whose immigration to Japan originated before 1945, or who are descendants of those immigrants. They are a group distinct from South Korean nationals who have immigrated to Japan after the end of World War II and the division of Korea.
The second Kobe riots in 1950
Repatriation of Koreans from Japan, January 1960
Classroom at Tokyo Korean High School with photographs of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il
Image: Masayoshi Son (孫正義) on July 11, 2008