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The Yodogo Hijacking

How a group of Japanese left-wing extremists hijacked a plane with samurai swords - and demanded to be taken to North Korea on 31 March 1970.

On 31 March 1970, a group of left-wing extremists from the Japanese Red Army Faction hijacked a plane with samurai swords and demanded to be taken to North Korea. The incident still affects Japanese-North Korean relationships today - because some of the hijackers are still in North Korea. Witness speaks to Daniel MacDonald, who was one of the passengers on board the plane.

(Photo: South Korean ground crew supply oxygen and electricity to the hijacked Japan Airlines Boeing 727 jet Yodo on 1 April 1970. Credit: Associated Press)

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9 minutes

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Fri 1 Apr 2016 07:50GMT

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  • Fri 1 Apr 2016 07:50GMT

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