Regarding the family association of North Korean abductees who have indicated that they will not oppose Japan's lifting of sanctions if all the victims are returned to Japan while their parents are still alive, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi stated that he would like to resolve the issue. The government treated the situation solemnly as an expression of the strong feelings of his family, and expressed his intention to do everything in his power to ensure his return to Japan.
On the 25th, the family association of North Korean abductees said, ``If all the victims can be returned to Japan at once while their parents' families are still alive, we will not oppose lifting the independent sanctions imposed by our country.'' For the first time, we have put together a policy of action that includes the lifting of sanctions.
Regarding this, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hayashi said at a press conference on the morning of the 26th, ``We solemnly accept this as an expression of the strong feelings of families and others towards resolving the issue.The response to North Korea must include a comprehensive range of outstanding issues such as abductions, nuclear weapons, and missiles.'' We will constantly consider what is the most effective way to resolve the issue."
He added, ``As the victims' families are getting older, the time-sensitive abduction issue is a humanitarian issue that we cannot afford to let go of for a moment, and we will continue to do our best to help all the victims return home as soon as possible.'' We will work on it.”