The families of victims abducted by North Korea held a large-scale rally in Tokyo to call for the government's efforts and North Korea's decision to realize the return of all victims while their parents' generation is still alive, stating that "there is no time left" amid the aging of families waiting for their immediate families to return to their home countries.
Prime Minister Kishida, who attended the meeting, expressed his intention to initiate high-level consultations under his direct control in order to realize a Japan-North Korea summit meeting at an early date so that all victims can return to Japan as soon as possible.
Takuya Yokota: "My parents' generation is aging, and there is no time left"
At the rally, Takuya (1), the younger brother of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted when she was in the first year of junior high school, and a representative of the victims' family association, mentioned for the first time that "we will not oppose humanitarian assistance to North Korea if all the victims can be returned to Japan while the parents' generation is alive," and said, "The aging of the parents' generation is a harsh reality and there is no time left. I would like the abductions issue, which is a humanitarian issue, to be resolved on a priority basis separately from the nuclear and missile issues."
Referring to Kim Jong-un's increasing opportunities to appear in the North Korean media with his daughter, he said, "We feel that Kim also loves his children as parents, and we hope that the generation of the victims' parents has the same feelings."
Ms. Saki Yokota: "I hope for one-on-one talks between Prime Minister Kishida and General Secretary Kim"
Megumi's mother, Sakie (87), said, "After a long struggle, the family has become elderly, and I myself fell ill about two months ago and was hospitalized for treatment.
This year marks 2 years since the first incident of the abduction issue, but with no prospect of a full resolution, the rally concluded with a resolution calling for the government's efforts and North Korea's decision to ensure that all victims can return home while their parents' generation is still alive.
Prime Minister Kishida emphasizes "determination to face General Secretary Kim directly without conditions"
Prime Minister Kishida, who attended the rally, said, "It is extremely regrettable that not a single abductee has been able to return to Japan since 2002. We will do our utmost to ensure that all victims return to Japan as soon as possible."
He also explained that at the G1 Hiroshima Summit, he sought the understanding and cooperation of the leaders of each country for an immediate solution and received their full support, and emphasized that it is important for Japan to act independently while working with the international community, and that he is determined to meet directly with General Secretary Kim Jong-un at any time without any conditions.
"The longer the current situation continues, the more difficult it may become to establish a fruitful relationship between Japan and North Korea, and I will continue to convey my determination at every opportunity from the perspective of resolving outstanding issues between Japan and North Korea and opening up a new era together, and I will hold high-level consultations under my direct control to realize the summit meeting as soon as possible." I said.
【Family Association: In-depth Policy and Growing Sense of Urgency】
This year's activity policy clearly states that "If it is possible to return to Japan, we will not oppose humanitarian assistance"
This year, the Association of Families of Abductees stated in its new policy that it would not oppose the government providing humanitarian assistance to North Korea if all victims could be repatriated while their parents' generation was alive.
This is the first time in the 26-year history of the association that the family association, which has suffered from abductions, has stepped into "support" for North Korea, albeit conditionally.
In addition to sanctions based on UN Security Council resolutions, the Japan government has imposed its own sanctions on North Korea, including a total ban on exports and imports, but providing humanitarian assistance to North Korea through international organizations is considered an "exception."
Behind the decision to step into the family association this time is the earnest desire to make a breakthrough through humanitarian assistance cards as members die one after another without being able to reunite with the victims, and there is no time to wait for the resolution of the nuclear and missile issues.
U.S. officials didn't object.
The family visited the U.S. this month for the first time in four years and repeatedly asked government officials to understand the policy.
Since the new policy means that we will aim for the early resolution of the abductions issue separately from the nuclear and missile issues, some family members were initially worried about the reaction of the U.S. side, but no one objected.
Aging of the family Growing sense of urgency
More than 40 years have passed since the abduction, and the two parents who are still alive are Megumi Yokota's mother, Sakie (87), and Keiko Arimoto's father, Akihiro (94).
This year, Saki Yokota is the same age as her husband, Shigeru, who passed away three years ago at the age of 2.
Ms. Sakie, who participated in a gathering held in Tokyo for the first time in three months on the 3th of this month, revealed that she had been hospitalized for the first time due to poor health.
"It was my first hospitalization, which was really unexpected, and I am truly grateful that I was able to receive treatment quickly and somehow receive help," said Sakie.
"Please let me manage for another two years, because I will work a little harder for Megumi-chan, so please," she said, shaking her voice.
The parents' generation of victims who face old age and are worried about their physical condition.
The sense of urgency that "there is no more time until I see my child again" has never been stronger.