[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended a Citizens’ Rally, “We Will Rescue Everyone with Unflagging Resolve at this Decisive Juncture!” at Hibiya Public Hall.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

“I would like to offer remarks on the holding of this national citizens’ rally as the Prime Minister. It goes without saying that the resolution of the abduction issue is one of the Abe administration’s top priorities. We have repeatedly communicated this to the North Korean side and advanced with negotiations. However, the North Korean side has not yet reported investigation results that include concrete information on the abductees. I pledge that we will continue to prioritize the abduction issue in negotiations, as is only natural.

Last month, the Government made a Cabinet Decision to extend measures being carried out independently by Japan against North Korea under the basic policy of ‘dialogue and pressure.’ The Government will continue to urge North Korea to expeditiously conduct the investigations, and to swiftly and sincerely report the results in order to achieve the return of all the abductees.
The resolution of this issue requires us to apply pressure on North Korea while thoroughly working with the international community. For the first time, in December of last year, the United Nations Security Council added “The Situation in the DPRK”, including the human rights situation to the list of issues of which it is seized on. There was a comprehensive discussion, including on the abductions issue. At the end of last month, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) adopted the Resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in the DPRK, jointly submitted by Japan and the European Union (EU), which states the expectation that the Security Council will be continuously and actively engaged on this issue. With this and other developments, it is a fact that there is now more momentum toward the resolution of the abductions issue than ever before. I would like to thank everyone in the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN), as well as the many other citizens who have called on the world in order to enhance this kind of movement. These are my thoughts on this matter.
The important thing is that we have the North Korean side fully recognize that it will be impossible for them to envision their future without the resolution of the abductions issue. Based on that recognition, North Korea should immediately return the abductees to Japan. I want to again emphasize that. These are my thoughts on this matter. The abduction issue will not be resolved without the return of the abductees to Japan.

Some time ago, I met with members of the AFVKN. In light of the fact that the family members of abductees are aging, I once again sensed their fervent hopes for resolution. I again emphasized that we can afford no delays. We will fully utilize all measures to realize the swift return of all abductees to Japanese soil. There may be a series of difficulties, but our mission will not be complete until the day comes when all the abductees and their family members can embrace each other. We will continue to exert every effort while adhering to the principles of ‘dialogue and pressure’ and ‘action for action’ to comprehensively resolve the outstanding issues based on the Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration.

We will always stand together with the abductees and their families. I want to close my address by thoroughly taking this to heart and pledging that I will continue to exert my utmost effort for the resolution of this issue. Let us continue to work hard together. Thank you very much.”