Families demand return of kidnapped Japanese 20 years later

Tokyo, Sept. 16 (Jiji Press)–Families of Japanese citizens who were abducted by North Korea decades ago called for the speedy return of abductees, at a rally in Tokyo on Friday, 20 years later that Pyongyang admitted the kidnappings for the first time.

Expressing concern that the next 10 years will be just as fruitless as the past 20, the families of abductees present at the event expressed their displeasure with the Japanese government.

Takuya Yokota, 54, brother of Megumi, who was abducted by North Korea aged 13, has criticized the Japanese government’s approach to the abduction issue.

“Nothing has changed in the situation, where families of abductees are left on the front lines to make their voices heard on the issue,” said Takuya, who heads an association of families of abductees.

Over the past 20 years, many parents, including Megumi’s father Shigeru Yokota, have died without seeing their abducted children again. “The Japanese government must acknowledge the disappointment of people who died without their wishes coming true,” Takuya said.

[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]