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On July 5, 2018, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe met with the Liaison Council of Cities Supporting the Abductees (Mr. Masahiro Sakurai, Mayor of Kashiwazaki City, Mr. Motohiro Miura, Mayor of Sado City, and Mr. Koji Matsuzaki, Mayor of Obama City) and Ms. Hitomi Soga at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Prime Minister said the following in his address,

“I would like to extend my appreciation to Mayor Sakurai of Kashiwazaki City, Mayor Miura of Sado City, and Mayor Matsuzaki of Obama City for coming here today and providing extremely considerate support to the abductees since their return to Japan.

The Government remains committed to thoroughly extending necessary support to the abductees in cooperation with all of you.

Unfortunately, a large number of abductees are still left in North Korea as you and Ms. Soga have just pointed out. While I have been working on this issue throughout my time, it has yet to be resolved. Indeed, it is a matter of utmost regret for me.

Recently, President Trump held a summit talk with Chairman Kim Jong-un of North Korea. It represents a great opportunity that President Trump talked, regarding the abduction issue, as I requested to him, directly with Chairman Kim Jong-un during this historic meeting. I believe that he kept in his heart what he discussed candidly and face-to-face with Ms. Soga and the families of the abductees when President Trump visited Japan last year.

Beyond that, Japan must certainly take the initiative on its own to deal with North Korea. I have determined to resolve this issue by involving myself to face Chairman Kim Jong-un, and hold a dialogue, a summit meeting, between Japan and North Korea. Of course, I fully understand that this is not an easy task. This issue will not be resolved unless both countries shed their mutual distrust of one another and embark on new diplomatic relations. I will do my very best while fully taking into account all of your thoughts. Ms. Soga’s mother and many of the families of abductees, including the parents of Ms. Megumi Yokota and the parents of Ms. Keiko Arimoto, have grown old. We will exert our efforts to deal with North Korea so that the day comes when the families of the abductees can once again hold their children in their arms while they are still in good health, even a day earlier.

Today, I have received a written request submitted by your council. The Government will fully take into consideration this request and respond thoroughly.”