[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended the seventh meeting of the Liaison Council of Government and Ruling and Opposition Parties Institutions for Measures against Abduction Issue, at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

“I would like to express my gratitude to all of you for crossing party lines and coming today to the seventh meeting of the Liaison Council of Government and Ruling and Opposition Parties Institutions for Measures against Abduction Issue, despite your busy schedules.

It has been one year since the establishment of the Special Investigation Committee and the start of investigations by North Korea in July of last year. Some time ago, we received word from the North Korean side that the investigation will take more time. This is truly regrettable.

Regarding this response from the North Korean side, I understand that those from each opposition and ruling party have expressed strong indignation, along with concerns about the future, and the desire to strengthen measures being carried out by Japan against North Korea.

The resolution of the abduction issue is one of the Abe administration’s top priorities, and we have been continuing to tackle it as such. We have conducted negotiations with North Korea based on the principles of ‘dialogue and pressure’ and ‘action for action’, and we have communicated to North Korea that we will persistently pursue a resolution to the abduction issue as a top priority.

More than anything, it is important that we have the supreme leader of North Korea recognize that it will be difficult to envision a future for North Korea without the resolution of the abduction issue. In addition, we will continue to strongly demand the immediate return to Japan of all abductees.

Previously, the door had been firmly shut on negotiations, but at long last we have pried it open, and are engaged in tough negotiations.

I have already instructed Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishida and Minister in charge of the Abduction Issue Yamatani to strengthen their approach on North Korea so that we can see quick and concrete action. In order to strongly demand the quickest possible return of all abductees through a swift investigation based on the agreement between Japan and North Korea in Stockholm, I would like for Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishida to directly approach his counterpart in North Korea in the near future.

As the family members of abductees are aging, we can afford no delays. Our mission will not be complete until the day comes when all the abductees and their family members can embrace each other. There has been absolutely no change to my way of thinking about that. I want to listen to the different thoughts of everyone gathered here today and then utilize those ideas in discussion in the future. Thank you very much.”