[Provisional Translation]

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

The Prime Minister said in his address,

“I would like to offer a few remarks on this citizens’ rally held by the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN), the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea (NARKN), the Parliamentarian League for Early Repatriation of Japanese Citizens Kidnapped by North Korea, the Assembled Governors for the Return of Victims of Abduction by North Korea, and the Commission for National Consultation of Regional Assemblies on the Abduction Issue.

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

More than anything, it is important that we make 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.

It has been over one year since the establishment of the Special Investigation Committee and the start of investigations by North Korea in July of last year. It is truly regrettable that no concrete prospects have arisen in relation to this investigation.

Regarding this response from the North Korean side, I understand well that those who have gathered here today have expressed strong indignation, along with concerns about the future, and the desire to strengthen measures being carried out by Japan against North Korea.

Last month, based on my instructions, Minister for Foreign Affairs Kishida met with Mr. Ri Su-yong, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Minister Kishida requested the execution of the agreement between Japan and North Korea in Stockholm, communicated the concerns held in Japan, and strongly demanded the quickest possible return of all abductees. The Government will carefully watch for results from this call to action and aim for the quickest possible return of all abductees through a swift investigation based on the agreement between Japan and North Korea in Stockholm. We will continue to exert our maximum efforts in order to quickly elicit concrete actions from North Korea.

As the family members of abductees are aging, we can afford no delays. My 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 this.

We will always stand together with the abductees and their families. With this thought, I would like to close my address as Prime Minister by once again pledging that I will carry on exerting my utmost efforts for the resolution of this issue. I will continue to work my hardest together with all of you.”