Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has reiterated her willingness to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted decades ago. Speaking on Monday to families of the abductees and their supporters, she expressed a desire to achieve a breakthrough and concrete results. The groups presented a policy document stating they would not oppose lifting sanctions on North Korea or pursuing diplomatic normalization if all abductees are returned.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met on Monday with families of Japanese abductees and their supporters, where she reaffirmed her readiness to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "I want to achieve a breakthrough and produce concrete results," she said during the meeting.
The two groups delivered a campaign policy document to Takaichi, indicating they would not oppose the lifting of sanctions on North Korea or negotiations toward normalizing diplomatic relations, provided all Japanese abductees are returned. Takuya Yokota, head of the family association and younger brother of high-profile abductee Megumi Yokota, referenced the Liberal Democratic Party's landslide victory in the February 8 general election. He suggested that North Korea might regard the Takaichi administration as a stable and credible negotiating partner. "We'll fully support the prime minister's diplomacy," Yokota added.
Megumi Yokota's mother, Sakie Yokota, who turns 90 this year, urged assistance in rescuing the abductees. The family group requested that the abduction issue be raised at the upcoming Japan-U.S. summit next month.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara stated at a later news conference that the government would closely cooperate with the United States on the matter. Meanwhile, Takaichi posted on X that she is "determined to face" a summit with the North Korean leader to "imagine a future in which Japan and North Korea enjoy peace and prosperity together."
These statements highlight the prime minister's commitment to addressing the long-standing abduction issue amid efforts to improve Japan-North Korea relations.
