Japanese abductees' relatives ask more senior US officials for support

NHK

01-05-2025

Relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea have asked senior US administration officials and lawmakers for help in bringing their loved ones back home.
Yokota Takuya, Iizuka Koichiro and their supporters have been in Washington since Tuesday. Yokota Takuya is the younger brother of Yokota Megumi, who was abducted at age 13. Iizuka's mother, Taguchi Yaeko, was taken when he was a year old.
In a meeting with Representative Jill Tokuda on Wednesday, Yokota stressed that 47 years have passed since his sister was abducted, and the issue has still not been resolved. He said he feels strong anger toward the North Korean authorities.
Yokota noted that his mother is 89 years old and time is running out. He pleaded for help in letting his mother reunite with Megumi.
Tokuda said that they must be united and stand shoulder to shoulder to bring all the abductees home.
Yokota and Iizuka later met senior White House officials in charge of national security.
Iizuka reportedly asked that the abduction issue be put on the agenda if US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un hold another summit.
Yokota told reporters that he feels they now have more people on their side. He added it is the families' mission as well as that of the Japanese government to turn the support into action.