• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 

 
On April 22, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with the families of abductees and attended a Citizens’ Rally, “Demand Again that the Government Rescue All the Abductees this Year” in Tokyo.
 
The Prime Minister said in his address at the meeting with families of abductees,
 
“I would like to express my gratitude for your taking time despite your busy schedules and giving me the opportunity to meet and speak with all of you.
 
Recently, I visited the United States from April 17 and spent two days there, where I had a summit meeting with President Trump in an extensive and candid manner. At that time, I thoroughly explained to President Trump the position and points of Japan on the North Korean issues. In particular, I asked him to take this one-in-a-million opportunity to raise the abduction issue and strongly urge its resolution. I also told him that I hope he will seize this truly rare opportunity, and requested him to convey the thoughts of Japan on a resolution to this issue to Chairman Kim Jong-un at this first ever U.S.-North Korea Summit Meeting.
 
In addition, I told President Trump that the family members of the abductees were impressed with the meeting where he had in-depth conversations with each of you during his visit to Japan and that they have high expectations of him. When I told him that, President Trump leaned in, looked me in the eyes, and said that he firmly understood everyone’s feelings. During the joint press conference, recalling his meeting with you last year, he stated, “We want to see these families reunited as soon as possible... And we're going to do everything possible to have them brought back, and bring them back to Japan. I gave you that promise.”
 
Of course, it is not a simple task as it is North Korea. Meanwhile, as I said a moment ago, we must seize the opportunity of the U.S.-North Korea Summit Meeting, the first in history. I am determined that we will not let this chance pass us by. 
 
I also asked President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea (ROK) to work with us to resolve this issue, when I held a summit telephone talk with him. In addition, when State Councilor Wang Yi of the People’s Republic of China visited Japan, I spoke at length about the importance of the abduction issue, and requested China’s cooperation as well.
 
Yesterday, North Korea made a forward-looking announcement on its nuclear test facilities and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). I welcome these positive developments, but we must still be very careful and watch closely to see if North Korea truly takes actions toward the abandonment of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, and ballistic missiles. More than anything, it is extremely important whether we move forward towards the resolution of the abduction issue. We must thoroughly observe that point, and of course, at the current moment in time, we are absolutely not considering lifting sanctions. I believe that we need to thoroughly see whether or not North Korea takes concrete actions.
 
The immediate return of all abductees to Japan. I want to continue to work on this issue with the strong resolve that our 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 abduction issue.
 
There will be an inter-Korean Summit Meeting this month, and after that, a U.S.-North Korea Summit Meeting is expected to take place. I will absolutely seize these opportunities to take steps forward on this issue.
 
I would like to again listen to all of your frank opinions today. I will close my remarks with the pledge that I will continue to fight to the end of this issue together with all of you. Thank you for today.”
 
In addition, 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.
 
Right now, there is a series of developments initiated by North Korea to seek dialogue. This is truly the result of our cooperation with the United States and the Republic of Korea (ROK), and our concerted efforts with related countries such as China and Russia, to exert maximum pressure on North Korea. Meanwhile, the United States has maintained its position that all options are on the table and is applying pressure on North Korea using all possible means. What we are seeing now is indeed the result of the pressure applied through Japan-U.S. cooperation. We have led the international community with the firm resolve to apply economic sanctions and ensure that there are no loopholes.
 
North Korea has now made an announcement that it will suspend nuclear tests and the launching of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), and abandon its nuclear test sites. It is most important that this leads to concrete action by North Korea toward the complete, verifiable and irreversible abandonment of all weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear tests, and all ballistic missiles. There will be no change to the Government’s basic policy. We will continue to gather and analyze information and closely monitor its development of nuclear weapons and missiles with the greatest attention.
 
This month there will be an inter-Korean Summit Meeting. After that, a U.S.-North Korea Summit Meeting, the first ever in history, is supposed to take place. I believe that we have entered the juncture of doing everything in our power to use the opportunities of these summit meetings to make progress on the abduction issue, which is of utmost importance to Japan.
 
On March 30, I met with the families of abductees. I directly heard their earnest hope that the current situation should be utilized to realize the return of all the abductees to Japan by all means necessary at the earliest possible date as a once in a million opportunity . Today as well, just before this rally, I had the opportunity to meet again with the families of the abductees and listen to their earnest opinions. We shared the view that we must exert our full efforts on this issue together, and that now is the time to do so.
 
With the earnest hopes of the families of the abductees in my heart, I visited the United States from April 17-20, and held meetings with President Trump. During our initial discussion with just the two of us on the first day, and our meeting later with a few others, we spent almost all of our time discussing the North Korean issues. In particular, during the meeting between just the two of us, I spoke to President Trump about the importance of the abduction issue. When President Trump visited Japan last year, he directly heard from the families of the abductees, and understood their feelings well. I stated to President Trump that I wanted to obtain his cooperation to resolve this issue, and spoke about just how painful this had been for the families. President Trump leaned in and listened carefully while looking me in the eyes. He gave the strong promise that he would raise the abduction issue during the forthcoming U.S.-North Korea Summit Meeting and do his best. Moreover, in our press conference, while reminiscing about his meeting with the families of the abductees last year when he visited Japan, President Trump stated in front of the cameras, “We want to see these families reunited as soon as possible... And we're going to do everything possible to have them brought back, and bring them back to Japan. I gave you that promise.” This joint press conference on the occasion of the Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting was also broadcast nationwide in the United States, including on CNN and other media. It was also watched by the people of North Korea. In front of the world, the President of the United States promised that he would resolve this issue and bring back the abductees to their families.
 
The real issue is, however, how North Korea will react and whether it will take actual action after a summit meeting is held and the United States raises this issue. In that sense, the abduction issue is truly Japan’s issue, and it is an issue that Japan must take the initiative on by itself. We will continue to further strengthen our calls on North Korea toward the immediate return of all of the abductees, while in close cooperation with the United States.
 
I also held a summit telephone talk with President Moon Jae-in of the ROK on March 16, and we shared the view that we would continue to cooperate toward the resolution of the abduction issue. I also urged State Councilor Wang Yi of the People's Republic of China, when he visited Japan recently, to raise this issue within China-North Korea exchange.
 
Regarding North Korea, dialogue for the sake of dialogue is meaningless. It must lead to the return of the abductees. From that perspective, I will continue to urge North Korea as well as seek cooperation from China and Russia toward the early resolution of the abduction issue. I will continue to undertake every possible measure toward the realization of the complete return of all abductees as soon as possible.
 
In 2002, five abductees were returned to Japan, but afterwards, in the more than 15 years since then, the return of even a single person has not been realized. As a politician who has been involved with the resolution of the abduction issue since its very beginning, and as someone who attended the Japan-North Korea Summit Meeting at that time as a Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary, I feel unbearable regret about this. The Government of Japan must take the initiative by itself towards the return of the abductees from North Korea. I will act as a commander and do everything in my power to make progress on this issue first during the inter-Korea Summit Meeting and then at the U.S.-North Korea Summit Meeting.
 
The abduction issue is a top priority of utmost importance for the Abe Cabinet. I will work on this issue with the determination that the Abe Cabinet will resolve this issue and our mission will not be complete until the day comes when all the abductees and their family members can embrace each other.
 
In order to resolve the abduction issue, it is important 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. The voices of the people of Japan will move the international community, and move North Korea to take action. After applying pressure together with the international community, we have reached a point where North Korea is at last seeking an inter-Korea Summit Meeting and a U.S.-North Korea Summit Meeting. Going forward, we must continue to move forward on this issue with firm resolve. I would like to conclude my remarks with the promise that I will make use of past experiences and continue my efforts on this issue together with everyone here.
 
I wish to work together with all of you. Thank you very much.”