TOP > What's up around the Prime Minister > April, 2007

Prime Minister Hosts a Luncheon for People Involved in the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN) Sunday, April 22, 2007 JAPANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted a luncheon for people involved in the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN) and talked with people including the families of abductees from Thailand and Republic of Korea (ROK). At the beginning, Prime Minister Abe expressed his thought that, "It has become clear that the abduction issue is a major international human rights issue that has been expanding worldwide and thus needs to be tackled through global coordination." The Prime Minister further said, "I will continue to devote all my energy to solving the abduction issue." Afterwards, Prime Minister Abe attended the National Rally to Demand the Immediate Return of All Victims Kidnapped by North Korea. In his address, he expressed his determination, saying, "I would like to resolve all pending issues and normalize Japan's relations with North Korea. To this end, the abduction issue must be resolved. It is the unshakable basic position of my Cabinet that without the resolution of the abduction issue, there will be no normalization of relations. I will strive with an iron will to resolve this issue."