Japanese abductees' families urge Kishida to resolve issue with N Korea

"It's really now or never...

Never was decided a long time ago.

Poor lady. How many US presidents and Japanese Prime Ministers has she now met with to plead her situation? I hope there is a miracle and her daughter is alive and is reunited with her soon. It was sad to see her husband pass without knowing.

*"I'm not sure how many prime ministers came and went, but nothing has changed," Sakie Yokota, the 85-year-old mother of an abductee, told reporters in Kawasaki. Her husband died at the age of 87 last year without seeing their daughter again.*

Well, the writing is on the wall and the abductees' families did seem to have noticed...

*"It's really now or never. I want (the prime minister) to realize a Japan-North Korea summit," she said, adding the parents of the victims are thinking every day of their children and their hardships.*

*"I would like (the prime minister) to clearly express his determination and say, 'I will solve the abduction issue with my own hands,'" Iizuka said. "I want him to show us a concrete plan and take action."*

...But they still can not accept the conclusion...

Fool me once, you bad. Fool me twice, me bad.

How many additional times do the abductees' families want to be fooled?

Frankly, they should have tried to get to North Korea by themselves or even consider going together with (Dennis) Rodman or Antonio Inoki instead of continuing to cling on to useless and non-caring Japanese PMs...

I'm sad to say that the issue will most likely be put to final rest when Sakie, Akihiro Arimoto and the other elderly members of the abductees' families will have passed away, which will most likely be over the next few years or by end of this decade...

Japanese abductees' families urge Kishida to resolve issue with N Korea

Like a broken record.

Sadly, there is probably nothing more can be done, if North Korea refuses to admit the remaining abductees exist then what can any government do. Probably the most they can try is to have the remains returned to Japan (and DNA tested) though it is unlikely that NK would agree.

Every new PM they roll out this story.

There is no advantage to North Korea in keeping any of the abductees against their will. Sadly, if any were still alive they would have been released a long time ago, probably during Koizumi's time as PM.

Can't resolve this. There's nothing a Japanese PM can do.

Like a broken record.

Sorry, maybe some people actually care about their families and never give up hope. How would your family feel if they knew you would just throw in the towel if they are kidnapped?

@englisc aspyrgend

Sadly, there is probably nothing more can be done, if North Korea refuses to admit the remaining abductees exist then what can any government do. Probably the most they can try is to have the remains returned to Japan (and DNA tested) though it is unlikely that NK would agree.

As far as Megumi Yokota is concerned, NK did agree to return the remains and the J-government did run a DNA test which by either plan or incompetence they bungled...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megumi_Yokota#DNA_controversy

Therefore, even in the remote case that NK agrees / can provide remains for the other abductees (at least those they acknowledged as having entered their country), whatever happens afterwards has to be taken with a grain of salt.

To say that anything related to NK is a completely unsolvable mess is an understatement.

My 2 cents for what they're worth: the J-government should try to obtain remains from NK and identify them as positives PERIOD. This would close the whole political affaire, de-passionate the issue and allow closure once and for all for the abductees' families who could then move on.

Would this be honest or fair? Not even close!! But has this issues been honest and fair up to now? Not even close!! So...the way you lay your bed...as they say...

But again, successive LDP governments pushed the narrative that they abductees were:

.1 alive

.2 can/would be returned

Not even mentioning that the LDP would lose an easy way of grab a few votes whenever needed, so why would they shoot themselves in the foot?

These poor families dragged out and paraded around for the cameras once again. This can only mean there's another election coming soon...

Offer NK ¥10 million or ¥100 million for every returned abductee.

North Korea can careless what Japan’s Government has to say Never gonna happen ever since the Abe Administration .Not now and not ever…

GarthgoyleToday 05:45 pm JST

Can't resolve this. There's nothing a Japanese PM can do.

I think so too. This issue will remain unsolved, likely for ever.

Generally seen, there is no sincere co-operation between Japan and North Korea existing and there is no progress at all, no improvement between the relationship between these two countries.

The Japanese government can only ask North Korea to investigate this tragic issue of abductees which happened more than 40 years ago. But there is nothing else what Japan could do otherwise.

Do as USA does not as USA says.

If they really are all dead, Japan has nothing to lose. Take the pig and crash little North Korea in Japan

All Kishida needs to do is 1) say that the government will vaguely commit to resolving the issue, and 2) deploy the magic adverbial shikkari-to.

Remember in 2002 the then dictator announced that North Korea had indeed abducted Japanese. What followed should not have followed: idiocy.

First, abductees were released with the understanding that they they be returned to North Korea. The Japanese government said okay and then did not return the abductees, which was quite right. Score one idiot point for North Korea. But things could still have been mended if the LDP politicians did not rant and rave and curse North Korea. North Korea clamped up after telling likely lies about the missing abductees. Score one idiot point for the LDP.

And that is where we are today. A sad business dragged out of political theatrics.

They can urge all they want, but nothing will happen...

If and when Japan takes a firm stand on this Issue, NK will continue to dance around it for as long as it can.

The question is are they even alive at this point? Is not just the aging aspect that kill people. Especially in a country like NK where the living condition is extremely harsh. I am starting to suspect the reason why they aren't being returned is because the NK government doesn't even have them anymore. I mean what is even the point of keeping them? There is zero benefits for keeping the victims and create more tension.

I totally miss her husband's smile. When he was angry and demanding he showed his true strength through his perpetual smile. Great father figure. Wish my dad was like him. Smile through thick and thin.

I'm confident that Kishida will be the one to solve it.

IF, and only if NK returned them alive unconditionally, quite a few Japanese might change their opinion against NK

What these parents want, no-one can give: they want to be taken back to a time when their children were still a part of their lives.

Sorry, maybe some people actually care about their families and never give up hope. How would your family feel if they knew you would just throw in the towel if they are kidnapped?

Have you ever considered that the J-govt. finds it advantageous that this issue is never resolved? That they know they got back all their abductees that were still alive and the issue is concluded, but it serves a purpose to keep dragging this on? I do feel sorry for Ms. Yokota and the other families involved...that given all they've had to deal with, the J-Govt. is callous enough to use them as pawns.

Kim Jong Un isn't Jesus; he can't raise the dead many of whom are buried somewhere in Japan and blamed on North Korea.

Kim Jong Il gave the full account of all the Japanese that North Korea abducted back in 2002, because he though the diplomatic normalization and a $10 billion compensation from Japan was imminent and Kim wanted to clear all outstanding diplomatic issues between NK and Japan. The rest NK didn't list were people who were lost in Japan, Japanese police should start digging Japan instead.

They just only don’t want to react in NK and give out the information. That costs also the weakest and youngest dictator only 30 minutes to have all files collected and put on his desk and to give an order to deliver it all by diplomatic mail or even more quickly with a fighter jet having exceptional allowance. So if they wanted to contribute and clarify those issues, that could be done in one or two hours. Doesn’t play a role if he was still too young, unborn or wasn’t ever involved, if it all had taken place under his grandfather’s or father’s government. It’s just only that he’s doing nothing about it.

I want our citizens to be rescued.

I wish this happened 33 years ago instead of waiting all this time. Government's of the past already failed.

Can this happen again where Japanese citizens become hostage, taken, kept? Yes.

This can happen again.... already did in the middle East where we lost citizens to terrorist groups.

USA defends Japan on big scale.... but who defends Japanese citizens in such situations???

We literally have no ability to rescue Japanese hostages overseas. That weakness called Article 9 will have serious consequences as time passes. Our citizens will be the ones who will pay the price.

Have you ever considered that the J-govt. finds it advantageous that this issue is never resolved?

I feel for people who have been so traumatized by life, they assume the worst in everything and everyone always. What a sad and pathetic existence that must be.

"I would like (the prime minister) to clearly express his determination and say, 'I will solve the abduction issue with my own hands,'" Iizuka said. "I want him to show us a concrete plan and take action."

I understand their pain. It’s real and it’s certainly warranted. But “solve the abduction issue with (his) own hands”? What do they expect Kishida to do? Lead a cross-border raid into the North? This isn’t a movie and there is no Jason Bourne. What will having yet ANOTHER summit do? We can’t even get the NorKos to agree to a summit on nuclear weapons, a far more pressing issue. What would this summit even look like? What leverage does Japan have?

Japan: We know you still have these abductees.

North Korea: No, we don’t.

Japan: Yes, you do.

North Korea: Prove it

Japan: Give them back or else.

North Korea: Or else what?

Japan: …

My heart breaks every time I hear about Megumi and her parents. I would like to believe someone somewhere will be able to help them. For now these families need to keep going, after all it was their efforts that many abductees were returned, including an American who went to NK of his own accord

The Japanese government is equally to blame for having lax security and allowing roving bands of foreign interlopers a free hand at abducting and kidnapping helpless young girls.

This message always appears with a new PM. Always. With perhaps one or two exceptions. It's been going on for decades. And no PM has been able to do anything about it. Why? Because we simply don't have the leverage to do it, or any legal means at all that the DPRK would eventually accept. It's exactly as @ReynardFox wrote. Occasionally someone expresses concern about what happened and strong disapproval of these hijackings. But that's it. And the DPRK doesn't make anything of it. It almost seems like we have a useless JSDF or our intelligence services are useless and don't know/wouldn't know who is/was moving in our territory

one and only who could do something was Koizumi,rest of japenese "leaders" all or just talk but no action...recent ones may be same one...

This problem was solved when Koizumi visited North Korea and all living abductees were returned to Japan. The Yokotas were informed that Megumi had died and were told that they were free to visit her daughter (their granddaughter) any time they wanted, but they did not go, not even once.

It’s such a tragic plight. I wonder what they think the Japanese PM can actually do though? You are dealing with a mad despot. How does one negotiate with a tyrant? What do these politicians promise to do exactly? Resolve the issue? Sounds very vague.

Hello Kitty 321Today  09:45 am JST

This problem was solved when Koizumi visited North Korea and all living abductees were returned to Japan. The Yokotas were informed that Megumi had died and were told that they were free to visit her daughter (their granddaughter) any time they wanted, but they did not go, not even once.

They did meet her(their granddaugter) and her daughter (their great-granddaugter) in Mongol.

What's the problem with trying not to stepping into NK's land ?

https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXLASDG09H57_Z00C16A6CC0000/

"I'm not sure how many prime ministers came and went, but nothing has changed,"

She definitely got that one right and I agree with her 100% concerning any and all aspects!

Megumi could still be alive - donot trust NK!

the ashes NK handed over (claimed to be the remains of Megumi) did not match the DNA from her umbilical cord (which her mother kept)

Megumi, we will pray for your return!

Japan VioletOct. 3  08:59 pm JST

I'm confident that Kishida will be the one to solve it.

I would ask why that is but I suspect no answer would be forthcoming.

StrangerlandToday  12:14 am

I feel for people who have been so traumatized by life, they assume the worst in everything and everyone always. What a sad and pathetic existence that must be.

I know the OP was in a question that implied nefarious intent by the J-gov, but you must recognize this issue comes up like clockwork every time there is a new PM chosen or an election.

Try to think you have kids abducted like this. If you blame your home country for not doing anything for decades other than labeling it using as political pawns, even under manacles like Democratic people and country, Article 9, UNSC, ... Realities, What would you do? What would you think your home country should do?　Huh？

You must have better idea, so tell us all.

kennyGToday  06:20 pm JST

Try to think you have kids abducted like this. If you blame your home country for not doing anything for decades other than labeling it using as political pawns, even under manacles like Democratic people and country, Article 9, UNSC, ... Realities, What would you do? What would you think your home country should do?　Huh？

You must have better idea, so tell us all.

You don’t seem to realize that we are criticizing the politicization of the issue, not the parents’/families’ efforts.

Politicize　or whatever , what would you do if you happen to be a politician , or even the PM of the country.

Tell us all.

Politicize　or whatever , what would you do if you happen to be a politician , or even the PM of the country.

Tell us all

What anyone would do is irrelevant, because what anyone can do is *nothing***. **Sad but true. My heart bleeds for these parents but what do they honestly think the Japanese government can do that they haven’t already tried? Do they think the J-gov is holding back some kind of Trump card and if they beg hard enough, the govt will play it? They keep pressing for the govt to do something, but never seem to elaborate on what they think that ‘something’ ought to be.

And all this talk about Article 9. What? Do you think that not having Article 9 would solve this? Are you really implying that Japan ought to go to war over a group of abductees that we have no evidence of even being alive?

No one here is blaming the parents for feeling angry. No one is blaming them for continuing to hold out hope. What we ARE doing is blaming the government for using them as props to bolster their nationalism cred while knowing full well that every promise they make to those parents is a lie to their faces. It’s clout-chasing on a national scale

Japan has been and continues to be making efforts.

The only way to help them is to force North Korea into an isolated situation and make them give up.

However, there is an incredibly heartless country next door. It is South Korea. The number of South Koreans who have been kidnapped by North Korea is dozens of times that of Japan. (In the case of South Korea, there are said to be about 500 victims.)

I wonder if the commenters here are aware of this? Of course, I don't blame you if you don't know about this. Why? Because the Korean media, the Korean people, and the Korean government are completely ignoring this fact. It's not that the victims didn't do anything. According to the information I have confirmed, the victims are demonstrating in 2018.

Despite this situation, the South Korean government is trying to promote an appeasement policy solution without working with Japan and the West, and the South Korean media and the South Korean public continue to ignore the victims. Moreover, it continues to have a negative impact on Japan's resolution of the abduction issue.

kenshin_uToday  02:45 am JST

Japan has been and continues to be making efforts.

Such as?

The only way to help them is to force North Korea into an isolated situation and make them give up.

How's that been working out?

However, there is an incredibly heartless country next door. It is South Korea.

I think it's pretty heartless to ignore the issue for decades and then keep the families' hopes alive for the sake of photo ops and votes.

What anyone would do is irrelevant, because what anyone can do is *nothing***. **Sad but true. My heart bleeds for these parents but what do they honestly think the Japanese government can do that they haven’t already tried? Do they think the J-gov is holding back some kind of Trump card and if they beg hard enough, the govt will play it? They keep pressing for the govt to do something, but never seem to elaborate on what they think that ‘something’ ought to be.

And all this talk about Article 9. What? Do you think that not having Article 9 would solve this? Are you really implying that Japan ought to go to war over a group of abductees that we have no evidence of even being alive?

No one here is blaming the parents for feeling angry. No one is blaming them for continuing to hold out hope. What we ARE doing is blaming the government for using them as props to bolster their nationalism cred while knowing full well that every promise they make to those parents is a lie to their faces. It’s clout-chasing on a national scale

I can hardly understand why you or your ilk always claim J-govt has been making just gesture and using the issue as props for whatever.

So you are saying, in short, J-Govt had tried everything possible and no one can do anything other than giving it up, therefore J-govt should not make any empty promise, not even the objective nor the strong-will to bring them back alive, when faced with and asked by the families. J-govt should confess the fact " We can't do anything and it's all dead end" or possibly stop meeting the families or ignore them and all take off blue ribbon. Correct?

In such case, there's one thing Japan hasn't tried at all. Revenge

The only response that is currently in place and is considered effective is the strengthening of economic sanctions. However, South Korea has been uncooperative in this regard, and is leaving its own victims to die. Currently, due to the global recession caused by Corona, North Korea is running out of foreign currency and is reportedly issuing temporary foreign currency exchange bills. The Japanese government needs to continue to gather information on North Korea and take appropriate measures to create a situation where North Korea is willing to negotiate.