Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held the second meeting of the Headquarters on the Abduction Issue at the Prime Minister's Office.
During the meeting, the details of support measures for the abductees and others affected by the abduction issue (the draft interim report) were discussed.
The Prime Minister said in his opening remarks, “Recently, I met with respresentatives of the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN) and other people who have been exerting great efforts in their respective capacities to resolve the abduction issue, and listened to their heartfelt views.
I have once again renewed my determination that my mission will not be complete until the day comes when the family members of every single abductee are able to embrace their abducted relatives in their own arms.
North Korea has agreed with Japan to implement comprehensive and full-scale investigations of all Japanese people, including the issues on the remains of Japanese nationals who passed away in the territory of North Korea around 1945 and their graveyards, the Japanese nationals left in North Korea, “Japanese spouses,” victims of abduction and other missing persons.  As part of our basic policy of “dialogue and pressure,” Japan intends to closely monitor the progress of the investigations being implemented by North Korea.
With this background, it is extremely important to flexibly and carefully develop an environment whereby the abductees who return to Japan can feel at peace in their daily lives here.
The details of these support measures have been summarized in the draft interim report. I would like to ask each Minister to please stand in the shoes of the abductees and their family members, to steadily advance the necessary items for the reconstruction of the appropriate support measures and their smooth operation, and to exert their utmost efforts towards the complete resolution of the abduction issue. Thank you.”