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[Provisional Translation]

On September 17, 2017, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with the families of abductees and attended a Citizens’ Rally, “Rescue All the Abductees this Year!” in Tokyo.

The Prime Minister said in his address at the citizens’ rally,

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

Fifteen years ago today, we held a Japan-DPRK summit meeting in Pyongyang, during which then-Chairman of the National Defense Commission Kim Jong-Il officially recognized the abductions. The Pyongyang Declaration that the leaders signed after the summit meeting embodies the shared recognition that ‘establishing a fruitful political, economic and cultural relationship between Japan’ and North Korea 'through the settlement of the unfortunate past between them and the outstanding issues of concern would be consistent with the fundamental interests of both sides, and would greatly contribute to the peace and stability of the region.’

However, North Korea has ignored repeated warnings from the international community, and launched in succession ballistic missiles that flew over Japan on August 29 and the day before yesterday. Furthermore, on September 3, North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test. These actions represent direct challenges to the international community, and are unprecedented grave and urgent threats to the stability and security of this region, including Japan, as well as world peace. These actions are totally unacceptable.

The entire international community must exert the maximum possible pressure on North Korea in order to put a stop to its outrageous acts. It is vital that each country act in perfect order to rigorously carry out the exceptionally strict sanctions approved unanimously by the United Nations Security Council on September 12 under discussions led by Japan and the United States. With cooperation among Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea, as well as China and Russia, we will work together to thoroughly call on relevant countries to ensure that all of the member countries of the UN perfectly carry out this resolution.

At the same time, as North Korea continues to undertake provocative actions, the abductions issue involving Japanese nationals must not be buried in all of this.

Starting last Monday, a delegation of the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN), the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea (NARKN), and a nonpartisan group from the Parliamentary League for Early Repatriation of Japanese Citizens Kidnapped by North Korea visited the United States, where they called for cooperation on the swift resolution of the abductions issue, including by asking the U.S. Government, Congress, and others to once again designate North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. I myself will visit the United States this week to attend the UN General Assembly. I will use this opportunity to once again seek the cooperation of President Trump for the urgent resolution of the abductions issue. In addition, I will take up the North Korean issue as a focus of my speech to the UN General Assembly, and call on the world to act on the abductions issue.

Prior to this rally, I had the opportunity to meet with the families of the abductees. They strongly requested that we never forget the abductions issue. They expressed their earnest wishes for the realization of the rescue of all the victims of abductions within this year, as is stated in the action policy of AFVKN and NARKN, given that the abductees and their families have aged, which means we cannot afford any more delays.

As a politician who has been working for the resolution of this abductions issue from the start, and as someone who attended that Japan-DPRK summit meeting as a Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, I feel unbearable regret that we have only been able to realize the return to Japan of five abductees and their families over the 15 years we have worked on this issue.

The abductions issue is a top priority for the Abe Cabinet. There will be no change in the stance of tackling this issue with the utmost priority.

With the strong resolve that my mission will not be complete until the day comes when all the abductees and their family members can embrace each other and that the Abe Cabinet will resolve the abductions issue, I will lead on this issue, and leverage the international community’s severe pressure on North Korea in response to the country’s repeated outrageous acts, to urge North Korea to make the decision to swiftly resolve the abductions issue.

In order to resolve the abductions issue, it is crucial that the Japanese public come together to express our strong resolve toward the return of all of the abductees to Japan as soon as possible. I pledge that I will do everything in my power to resolve the abductions issue, uniting in heart with all of you. In the end, we must negotiate with North Korea. It is an extremely difficult issue, but I pledge that I will do my utmost to work together with everyone here and the people of Japan for the return of the abductees to Japan as soon as possible. With that pledge, I would like to close my address as Prime Minister. I will exert every effort for this issue. Thank you very much.”