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[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attended a Citizens’ Rally, “The Decisive Juncture Continues, We Will Rescue All the Abductees through Sanctions and International Collaboration!” held in Tokyo.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

“I would like to offer a few remarks upon the opening of this citizens’ rally.

The resolution of the abductions issue is the most important for the Abe administration. We are tackling the issue as a top priority.

It is extremely regrettable that it will soon be two years since the start of the investigation by North Korea’s Special Investigation Committee, and yet we have seen no progress on the abduction issue.

In the midst of this, North Korea carried out a nuclear test in January of this year, and in February, it launched a ballistic missile which it calls a “satellite.” It has continued to undertake provocative actions since then as well.

These actions are totally unacceptable, as they clearly constitute violations of UN Security Council Resolutions and are direct threats against Japan.

Given these circumstances, the Government made the decision to undertake resolute and independent measures toward a comprehensive solution to all the outstanding issues, including the abductions, nuclear, and missile issues..

In response to that decision, North Korea declared that it would dissolve the Special Investigation Committee. This is something that we absolutely cannot accept, as Japan has no intention of discarding the agreement between Japan and North Korea reached at Stockholm.

Through the recent adoption of the UN Security Council resolution which strengthened sanctions, the international community sent a clear message to North Korea. The thoughts of Japan have been incorporated decisively into that resolution, and it expresses humanitarian concerns.

Japan will implement that resolution in a strict manner in close cooperation with the international community. Since the release of the resolution, I have continued to state at summit meetings how important it is that the international community absolutely and strictly execute the resolution.

At the recent Nuclear Security Summit, I had an exchange of opinions with President Obama and President Park of the Republic of Korea, and I explained the position of Japan around the abduction issue. I was able to gain the understanding and support of both Presidents for Japan’s measures.

However, North Korea does not heed the words of the international community. It continues provocative acts such as tests on engine combustion in intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

We need the supreme leader of North Korea to clearly recognize that ‘these kinds of provocative actions will absolutely come with a severe price, and it will be impossible for them to to envision a bright future for themselves without the resolution of all the outstanding issues, including the abduction issue, nuclear tests, and missiles.’

‘Dialogue for the sake of dialogue’ is meaningless for the resolution of the abduction issue.

At the same time, without dialogue, we will not resolve the abduction issue.

Under the principles of ‘dialogue and pressure’ and ‘action for action,’ the Government will collaborate with the international community and put ‘severe’ pressure on North Korea. At the same time, we will not close the door to dialogue. We will exert every effort toward the resolution of the abduction issue.

Our mission will not be complete until the day comes when all the abductees and their family members can embrace each other.

We will always stand together with the abductees and their families.

I would like to close my address by pledging that I will continue to exert my utmost effort as Prime Minister, together with the people of Japan, to return the abductees to their families as soon as possible.

Let us continue to work hard together.”