THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
October 24, 2022 at 19:02 JST
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, far right, listens to Takuya Yokota, left, who heads the association of family members of those abducted by North Korea, in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on Oct. 23. (Ryuichi Kitano)
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Oct. 23 renewed his commitment to resolving the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea and vowed to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
“I will do my utmost to ensure all abductees return home as soon as possible,” Kishida said at a rally seeking a solution to the abduction issue held in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward.
“I am determined to face the North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, directly at any time without setting conditions,” he said.
The rally calling for the rescue of abductees was organized by the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea and Sukuu Kai (National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea).
About 800 people participated. They adopted a resolution calling on the Japanese government and North Korea to realize the “immediate and comprehensive return of all abductees to Japan.”
One of the attendees was Takuya Yokota, 54, the younger brother of Megumi Yokota, who was 13 when she was abducted by North Korean agents in Niigata Prefecture in 1977.
“It is very painful to think how long we have to bear such a living hell,” said Yokota, who heads the association of family members of those abducted by North Korea.
Megumi’s mother, Sakie, 86, said, “I want to rescue them and let them step on Japanese soil.”
Five of 17 Japanese officially recognized by Tokyo as having been abducted by Pyongyang were returned to Japan in 2002. Since then, however, no other abductees have come back.
“It is deeply regrettable,” Kishida said. “My heart hurts when I just imagine how painful it was for the abductees’ family members who passed away without being reunited with their loved ones.”
Kishida added, “This is a human rights issue with time constraints as the victims’ families are getting older.”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Japan-North Korea summit, at which North Korea acknowledged the abductions for the first time.
Families of North Korea abductees demand their quick return
May 30, 2022
Service held for Yokota, symbol of North Korean abduction issue
October 25, 2020
Little cheer among former abductees on 20th anniversary
October 16, 2022
20 years fly by, and no progress is made on abduction issue
September 17, 2022
EDITORIAL: Yokota’s death shows time is running out for abductees’ kin
June 8, 2020
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