'Will keep persuading North Korea through various channels'

PM meets families of abductees, including Yokota Megumi's brother

Families report on US visit, request American cooperation

Takaichi reaffirms willingness to hold summit with Kim Jong-un

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae holds a press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo following a Cabinet reshuffle on Sept. 17. [EPA]
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae holds a press conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo following a Cabinet reshuffle on Sept. 17. [EPA]

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae met with families of citizens abducted by North Korea on Tuesday and pledged to create a breakthrough on the issue before her term ends.

Takaichi met Tuesday morning at the prime minister's official residence with Yokota Takuya, the younger brother of Yokota Megumi — who was abducted by North Korea in 1977 — and other families of abduction victims, according to Kyodo News and other outlets.

"I want to keep persuading North Korea through various channels and somehow open a breakthrough during my tenure," Takaichi told those gathered.

The families also briefed Takaichi on the results of their US visit last month. A delegation comprising the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, the rescue support group Sukuukai, and a cross-party lawmakers' league for the rescue of abductees traveled to the United States from Sept. 21 to Sept. 25, meeting with Department of State officials and members of Congress to request cooperation in resolving the abduction issue.

After the meeting, Yokota told reporters that while progress may not be visible on the surface, he believed the Takaichi government was doing everything in its power to resolve the issue. "I hope they will pursue diplomacy with perseverance," he said.

Since taking office, Takaichi has made the abductee issue a central plank of her North Korea policy and has repeatedly expressed her intention to meet directly with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to discuss a resolution.

The abductee issue — the most pressing matter in Japan-North Korea relations — is considered a key variable in any resumption of summit diplomacy between the two countries. The Japanese government has maintained that normalizing relations with North Korea will be difficult without first resolving the fate of the abduction victims.


sjy@heraldcorp.com