Abducted by North Korea
The Endeavors of Japanese Families
Information
In the 1970s and 1980s, many Japanese citizens were abducted by North Korea. 17 persons are confirmed by the Government of Japan as victims of abduction. There are also many other missing Japanese people for whom the possibility of abduction cannot be ruled out.
When the Japan-North Korea summit meeting was held on September 2002, the North Korean government admitted and apologized for the abduction of Japanese citizens. 5 abductees were then returned to Japan.
However, Pyongyang has not provided any convincing explanations for others, whose whereabouts are currently unknown. During this time, the family members of abductees continued their ardent efforts to gather signatures and give speeches to spur the government into action.
YOKOTA Shigeru, who headed the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, and his wife Sakie, have been at the forefront of these efforts in hope for the return of their daughter, YOKOTA Megumi, who was abducted when she was a junior high school student. YOKOTA Takuya is carrying on his parents’ work and is committed to resolving the abductions issue.
This program will focus on the Yokota family’s 45-year battle and advocate to resolve the abductions issue by North Korea.
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