Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the "Furusato-no-Kaze (Wind from the Homeland) Concert — Music Event to Pledge the Rescue of Japanese Citizens Abducted by North Korea —" in Tokyo.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

"We, the Abe Cabinet, are resolutely determined to fully resolve this issue.
With regard to the abduction issue, First Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea Kim Jong-un must make the major decision to shift the policy that North Korea has taken, resolve this issue, and once again start building a new North Korea for the future. 
To see to it that this happens, we have maintained our stance of using dialogue and pressure to bring a turnaround in the situation. Of course various criticisms have been raised, with some wondering if there is no other way to address the issue. If there are other better ways to do so, please let us know. However, unless we get North Korea to change the policy it has taken, there will be no complete resolution. It must be made clear that unless North Korea change their current policy, there will be no future for their country.
It is for the sake of making North Korea believe this that we have been applying pressure. We are ready to hold dialogue at any time if the opportunity presents itself.
In the one year that has passed since I assumed the position of Prime Minister, I have held talks with leaders of other countries on more than 150 occasions. During the talks, I have always sought understanding on the abduction issue and sought support for Japan's stance. Support has been received from all of them. Ten years ago, hardly any country had an understanding of this issue. Today, however, the international community perceives the abduction issue as a gross violation of human rights and as a violation of sovereignty, and I believe many countries share this understanding. At the same time, Japan and the Japanese people together have to make ourselves heard, and in this sense, many people have attended this concert. I hope our calls will be heard in North Korea."