Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi met with the mayors of the three cities in Niigata and Fukui prefectures where the returned abductees live. During the meeting, the mayors handed over a written request requesting that the government resolve the issue through direct negotiations with North Korea.
Hayashi said, "It is extremely regrettable that not even a single abductee has been able to return home since 2002, and we take this very seriously.'' He said Prime Minister Kishida intends to proceed with high-level discussions under the Prime Minister's direct control to realize the Japan-North Korea summit meeting.