The family association of the abductees by North Korea will summarize the future activity policy, and in order to realize the earliest possible return of all the victims while the parents' generation is still alive, the government will hold an early summit meeting between Japan and North Korea. I reconfirmed that I asked for.
On the 13th, a meeting of abductees' families and support organizations was held in Minato-ku, Tokyo, and Takuya Yokota, who took over after Shigeo Iizuka, who died last December, was appointed as the representative of the family association. I want to deeply understand the word "don't give up" that I often said, and make sure to unite the feeling of regaining all the victims. "
After all of them offered a silent prayer to Mr. Iizuka, the future activity policy of the family association was summarized.
Of the three items that the government defines as a solution to the abduction problem, "immediate collective return of all victims," "finding the truth," and "delivery of perpetrators," only "immediate collective return of all victims." It is said that it is a line that can never be surrendered to the family association.
On that basis, he said, "There is no solution to the abduction problem without the parents' generation hugging the victims." We are asking you to specify the deadline.
After the meeting, Mr. Takuya Yokota said, "It has been 25 years since the formation of the family association, but it is really disappointing and cruel that some of the members at the time of formation did not reunite with the victims and passed away. Given the age of the parents, time is limited, and I would like to ask for the government's concrete efforts and the decision of North Korean leader Kim Jung-eun. "
Sakie Yokota "For many years, nothing has moved and I can't see anything."
The family association of the abductees will be 25 years old on the 25th of this month.
At a press conference after the meeting, Megumi Yokota's mother, Sakie Yokota (86), said, "Everyone has been working hard for 25 years, but for such a long time, nothing has moved and nothing can be seen. "I don't know how to interpret the mystery," he said. "I want the top executives to speak with all their heart and soul as soon as possible." I asked.
In addition, Shuichi Ichikawa's older brother Kenichi (76) said, "I feel impatient and resentful that the abduction issue has not progressed slowly in the last 25 years. Victims and their families are aging, and there is a momentary grace. No. I strongly hope that all measures will be taken to realize the Japan-North Korea summit meeting. "
In addition, Koichiro Iizuka, who was raised as a real child by Shigeo Iizuka, the former representative of the family association who died last December, said, "What is the former representative and why do things have to endure so much? I talked about whether the victim would return if I did, but I regret that I died without seeing the victim's return. I didn't feel like giving up, and Prime Minister Kishida acted concretely. I want you to not allow any more stagnation, and hopefully I want to see Mr. Arimoto and Mr. Sakie hugging their daughters during this time. "
The "deadline of life" of the remaining family is approaching
It was 25 years ago that the families of the abductees met for the first time and formed a meeting.
The activity started by standing on the streets in each local area and calling for signatures one by one in the neighborhood, but Shigeru Yokota, who has taken the lead, is no longer there, and Shigeo Iizuka, who took over the representative, also last year. He passed away in December.
Three years ago, the family association sent out its first message to General Secretary Kim, saying, "If everyone can return home early, we will not ask the victims for secrets and prevent them from hindering the normalization of diplomatic relations." "This message has a deadline," he added.
It has been 45 years since the first incident occurred in September.
With no progress and the “deadline for life” of the remaining families approaching, the abduction issue is entering a phase where the government's strategy is severely questioned.