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[Provisional Translation]

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks with the families of abductees at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister said in his address,

“I would like to thank everyone in the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN) for taking the trouble to come to the Prime Minister's Office today.

It is now 40 years since Ms. Megumi Yokota, Ms. Kyoko Matsumoto, and Mr. Yutaka Kume were abducted in 1977. The AFVKN was formed during a truly difficult time for you, and this year marks the 20th anniversary of its establishment.

As one of the members who have been engaged in the abduction issue from the beginning, I truly feel profound sorrow that in all of the time that has passed, while five abductees and their families have returned to Japan, many other abductees remain in North Korea even now.

I have renewed my resolve to make maximum efforts to realize the safe return home of the remaining abductees as quickly as possible.

In regard to recent events in North Korea, North Korea has launched a missile even　since the start of this year and has went ahead with nuclear tests. These acts are a clear violation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. Under these circumstances, Japan must collaborate closely with the international community to apply pressure on North Korea, and further deepen our efforts to ensure that North Korea complies with the resolutions.

North Korea launched a missile exactly when I was visiting the United States. President Trump was at my press conference and expressed that the United States was 100% behind the position of Japan. When I discussed with President Trump the importance of resolving the abduction issue, we fully shared the same view in regard to this understanding.

With a view to resolving the abduction issue, Japan will work closely with the countries of the world, including the United States, our ally, in joining our voices as one to urge North Korea to return the people it has abducted.

I am sure that this past 40 years must have been a very difficult time for all of you. We will continue to work closely with you and to exert even greater efforts.

Today I believe I will be receiving a letter of request and so on from you. I am committed to doing my best to address this matter in line with your wishes. Thank you for your cooperation.”