Regarding the abduction issue by North Korea, last year marked the 20th anniversary of the Japan-North Korea summit meeting in which some of the victims returned to Japan, but the year passed without any progress on the other victims.
As families waiting to return to Japan are aging, this year will be a year in which the government's ability to execute will be tested as to how to quickly resolve the abduction issue, which has a limited amount of time.
Last year marked the 20th anniversary of the first Japan-North Korea summit meeting in which five victims returned to Japan, but the number of victims recognized by the government alone has risen to 12, and no progress has been made on the other victims. was.
While it has taken too long to resolve the issue, eight parents have died in the past 20 years without being able to reunite with their children. Keiko Moto's father, Akihiro (94) is two people.
The family association of the abductees stated in its new activity policy that it decided last year that ``the abduction issue cannot be resolved unless the parents' generation embraces the victims.'' I have repeatedly appealed to the government that there is no reality.
In response to this, the government also used the expression "the abduction issue is a humanitarian issue with a time limit" for the first time, showing a stance of rushing to resolve it.
This year, the Family Association plans to strongly urge the government to ensure that the victims can return home while their parents are still alive. This year will be a year in which the government's ability to implement solutions will be tested.
Mr. Takuya Yokota, representative of the Family Association, "The Japanese government should implement a concrete strategy."
Megumi Yokota's younger brother, Takuya Yokota (54), who has been a representative of the abduction victim's family association for a year, responded to an interview with NHK.
Looking back on last year, Takuya said, "There has been no visible concrete progress, and as for my sister, even 45 years after she was abducted, I still don't know where she is. Why has it taken this long?" Even if time passes, I wonder if it can still be resolved, and I felt the same thing this year."
He touched on the aging of the victim's parent generation, saying, "My mother is 87 years old, the same age my father died this year. In fact, my voice is getting quieter, and my walking speed is slower. I can't help but feel the harsh reality that there is a time limit to the resolution of the abduction issue," he said.
In addition, he referred to a message addressed to General Secretary Kim Jong Un (Kim Jong-un) that the Family Association first issued four years ago, saying, "When the abductees returned, the Family Association asked them what they had seen and heard in North Korea. I have repeatedly stated that I will not reveal any secrets or hinder the normalization of diplomatic relations between Japan and North Korea. I want you," he called out.
Regarding the Japanese government, I would like you to formulate a concrete strategy on how to move North Korea and how to bring General Secretary Kim Jong Un to the forefront. I would like North Korea to come up with a strategy that will make it easier for North Korea to step forward, such as proposing humanitarian and medical assistance, within the limits of deviance, and pressing for a solution."