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On February 19, 2019, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting with families of abductees and others at the Prime Minister’s Office.
 
The Prime Minister said in his opening address,
 
“I would like to welcome all of you to the Prime Minister’s Office today. Many years have passed since the first case of the abductions occurred, without this issue being resolved. While six years have passed since the inauguration of the second Abe administration, we still have not yet materialized the return of your families. It is truly a matter of extreme regret.  
 
Last year, President Trump held a historic summit meeting with Chairman Kim Jong-un. At that summit meeting, President Trump conveyed my position on the abductions issue to Chairman Kim Jong-un. As the United States and North Korea have been engaged in negotiations thereafter, the U.S. has exerted its efforts towards the resolution of this issue. It has been confirmed that the second U.S.-North Korea Summit Meeting will be held in Hanoi this month.
 
I hope to hold a summit telephone talk with President Trump soon and convey my position to President Trump. You recently announced a new action policy, and issued a message addressed to Chairman Kim Jong-un conveying your position and sentiments. I read this message carefully. The thoughts and sentiments put into this message have come through vividly. Taking them solemnly, I will express to President Trump during our summit telephone talk our thoughts on how we should resolve this issue, and ask him to convey that to Chairman Kim Jong-un.
 
Going forward, keeping your wishes in mind, I will continue to work on resolving this issue, determined not to miss any possible opportunities. Today, I am looking forward to hearing your honest views and would like to share with you our work so far and our future plan of course. Thank you.”