
Sakie Yokota, mother of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korea, call for rescue of abductees to North Korea, in a major rally attended by PM Kishida, right, in Tokyo on Sunday.
14:57 JST, October 24, 2022
Families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea held a rally in Tokyo on Sunday to call for the immediate return of abductees still in the North.
The families expressed their anger that some abductees remain in North Korea 20 years after five abductees returned to Japan in October 2002.
During the rally, which was held in the capital’s Chiyoda Ward, the families renewed their determination not to give up on their hopes of being reunited with their abducted family members.
“How long must we continue with this painful living hell?” said Takuya Yokota, 54, the younger brother of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korea at the age of 13.
The head of an association of families of abductees also called on the government “to completely resolve the issue while the parents [of abductees] are still alive and well.”
Megumi’s 86-year-old mother Sakie said: “We want to make sure that the victims are rescued. We want to let them set foot on Japanese soil.”
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida — who returned from a visit to Australia earlier that day — attended the rally and said: “It’s deeply regrettable that not a single victim has been able to return home since 2002. We’ll do our utmost to ensure that all the victims return home as soon as possible.”
Kishida met with the abductee families prior to the rally.
About 800 people attended the meeting and held a silent prayer for former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who had worked on the abduction issue for many years.
"Society" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Earthquake Hits with Epicenter in Central Tokyo; No Tsunami Warning
-
Princess Aiko Delivers First Address During Official Duty; Daughter of Emperor and Empress Speaks at Opening of International Medical Conference
-
Suspicious Plastic Bottle Containing Black Liquid Found on Tokaido Shinkansen Train; Police Working to Identify Contents
-
Man Arrested on Suspicion of Drunk Driving after Rear-ending Bus in Yokosuka
-
2025 Expo Osaka: Visitor Surge Expected in Latter Half as Increased Ticket Sales Not Leading to More Attendance Yet
JN ACCESS RANKING
-
Core Inflation in Japan’s Capital Sharply Accelerates in April
-
U.S. Holds Fire Over Yen Exchange Rate Targets; Bessent Said to Understand Negative Impact on Markets
-
Rents Mark 30-Year-High Rate of Rise; Decrease in Disposable Income May Dampen Personal Consumption
-
Japanese Govt Mulls Raising Number of Cars to be Imported Under Simplified Screen System in U.S. Tariff Negotiations
-
Japan Must Take Lead in Maintaining Free Trade System, Says Chairman of Japan Trade Group