As they watched footage of the historic summit between leaders of the United States and North Korea on Tuesday, relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by
As they watched footage of the historic summit between leaders of the United States and North Korea on Tuesday, relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago expressed hope that the landmark meeting in Singapore will lead to the return of their loved ones.
“For us (relatives of abductees,) we are pleased that we have finally come this far,” Sakie Yokota, 82, told reporters who gathered at a small meeting hall near her home in Kawasaki, hours after the end of the meeting between U. S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
“We wish for the Japan-North Korea relationship to recover soon, and sincerely hope that victims (of abductions) return in good shape,” added Yokota, whose daughter, Megumi, was 13 years old when she was kidnapped in 1977 while on her way home from school in Niigata Prefecture.
At a news conference after the meeting, Trump said he had discussed the abduction issue with Kim, although it was not included in a joint document signed by the two leaders. “I am not pessimistic… I knew things wouldn’t be that easy,” Yokota said, adding that she hopes Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will meet with Kim and discuss the abduction issue as soon as possible.
Abe reiterated Tokyo’s willingness to hold its own summit meeting with Kim to negotiate first-hand the return of abductees.
