Relatives of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea have spoken of their firm resolve to achieve the return of all abduction victims.
The family members were speaking at a news conference after they held a meeting on Sunday to discuss their future course of action.
Yokota Takuya, whose sister Yokota Megumi was snatched away when she was 13 years old, said the family members view Japan-North Korea relations as being in a phase for dialogue in the past several years.
Yokota, the head of a group of abductees’ relatives, said that is why his group has decided not to oppose the lifting of Japan’s sanctions against North Korea if all the abduction victims are returned.
Yokota said the decision was not easy to make considering the bitterness the abductees’ parents have had to endure. He said the group is opting to adopt its current policy to elicit dialogue with Pyongyang.
He stressed that they remain strongly committed to realizing the return of all abductees. He said North Korean authorities should not make light of their resolve.
Yokota Sakie, Megumi’s mother, said a number of innocent people have been taken into North Korea and remain invisible for nearly 50 years, which has caused tremendous suffering to their family members. Yokota, who turned 90 years old this month, went on to say that she has been thinking about the abductees on a daily basis, wondering if they stay in shape.
She added that the relatives are earnestly hoping for the return of every one of them.
AloJapan.com