Families of Japanese abducted by North Korea adopted a resolution in Tokyo on Sunday demanding that Tokyo and Pyongyang return every abductee at once, while the parents' generation is still alive, the Asahi Shimbun reported.
The family association and its support group, the Sukuukai, held what they called a national rally in the capital. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara attended. Organizers said about 800 people took part.
Takuya Yokota, 58, heads the family association and is the younger brother of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted to North Korea at age 13. "Each abductee and their family strongly wish for an early return and reunion," he said in his greeting.
Takaichi cites Trump's backing
Takaichi referred to the September Japan-US summit and said President Trump had again given full support for resolving the abduction issue. She added that she has asked every foreign leader she meets for help with an immediate solution, and that each has backed her.
The rally came ahead of Tuesday's 49th anniversary of Megumi Yokota's abduction. Her mother, Sakie Yokota, 90, held a news conference in Kawasaki, where she lives, on Friday.
“I'll die someday, and I want to see her before then. That hope is all I have now.”Sakie Yokota, mother of Megumi Yokota
She renewed her call for a Japan-North Korea summit and a swift resolution of the abduction issue. The resolution puts pressure on Tokyo to reject any deal that brings home only some of those taken, a demand that narrows the room for a partial settlement.