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Bring Them Home

Yokota Megumi has long been a symbol of the plight of abductees and their families.
She was abducted to North Korea from Niigata Prefecture in 1977 at age 13.

Abductions by North Korea are a universal human rights issue

Imagine a loved one being
suddenly abducted fromhome and carried off to an
unfamiliar place abroad. At
least 17 Japanese, possibly
many more, were abducted
to North Korea decades ago.
The families of abductees
have been waiting for theirreturn, but only five of them
have come back to Japan.
The others are still missing,and this brutal crime remains unresolved today.

A daughter rippedfrom her family
Yokota Megumi has long
been a symbol of the plightof abductees and their families. She was abducted toNorth Korea from Niigata
Prefecture in 1977 at age 13.
Pyongyang admitted to abducting her but claimed shedied in the early 1990s. However, North Korea has not
yet provided any convincing
explanation or evidence forthis claim. In November
2004, Pyongyang provided
what it claimed were Ms. Yokota’s remains, but forensic
analysis detected DNA thatis not hers.
“My image of my sister isfrozen in time from when I
was 9 years old,” said Yokota
Takuya, Ms. Yokota’s brother.
“I’m worried about how she

is living now, and I want ourfamily to be reunited as soon
as possible.”
The Government of Japan
has so far identified 17 Japanese citizens who were abducted by Nor th Korea,
including the five who returned in 2002. In addition,
there are other cases wherethe possibility of abduction
cannot be ruled out.
The exact reasons whyNor th Korea committed
these crimes are unclear.
The Government of Japan
believes they may include
disguising North Koreanagents as Japanese citizens,and forcing abductees totrain North Korean agents toact Japanese. Families of abductees have joined handswith the Government ofJapan to raise awareness ofabduc tions as a humanrights issue affecting theentire international community.
Citizens of other countries
were also abducted by NorthKorea. They may include
David Sneddon, an American
who disappeared in China in2004.
“Only despotic regimes
and leaders without conscience would do such inhumane acts,” said James
Sneddon, David’s brother.

Yokota Takuya appeals for the return of all abductees.

“I want our family to be reunited as soon as possible.”
Yokota Takuya

Timeline: Abductions by North Korea
1970s-1980s

1997

2002

2005

Many Jap ane s e w er e ab du c te d b y
North Korea.

A s s o ciation of Families of V ic tims
Kidnapped by Nor th Korea is established.

First Japan-North Korea Summit meeting. Kim Jong Il admits to the abductions. Five Japanese abductees returnto Japan.

U.N. General Assembly adopts its first
resolution on the situation of humanrights in North Korea.

20142018

20192022 January

The Commission of Inquiry on HumanRights in the DPRK submits its Final
Report to the U.N. Human Rights Council.

Following a similar measure in 2016 bythe U.S. House of Representatives, theU.S. Senate adopts a resolution expressing concern about the disappearance ofDavid Sneddon.

U.S. President Donald Trump raises theabductions with North Korean leader
Kim Jong Un.

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio
holds a teleconference with U.S. President Biden and asks for continued cooperation for the immediate resolution ofthe abductions issue. President Biden
offers renewed support.

A new generation
takes upthe struggle

Donald Trump raised the abductions issue with North
Korean leader Kim Jong Un
in their summit talks. Prime
As the years pass, JapaMinister Kishida has priorinese abductees’ loved ones
tized the abductions issue as
are aging and dying.
the top issue of his adminis“Since 2002, not a single
tration, affirming internationabductee has returned,” said
al cooperation with U.S.
Ii z u k a Ko i c h i r o, w h o s ePresident Joe Biden.
mother Taguchi Yaeko was
In December 2021, the U.N.
abducted in 1978 when he
General Assembly adopted a
was a baby. “Our goal is ther e s olu tion c ondemning
immediate return of all abhuman rights violations byductees.”
North Korea including theMs. Taguchi’s brotherabductions of Japanese andIizuka Shigeo, who raisedSouth Korean citizens. It was
her son Koichiro as his own,
the 17th consecutive year
died in 2021, never havingthat the world body has enbeen reunited with his sister.
dorsed such a resolution.
He was 83. Similarly, Ms. Yo“There has never been akota’s father passed away intime when international part2020 at age 87 after years of A pressing
nership in terms of countercampaigning to rescue his global issue
measures against Northdaughter from North Korea.
Korea and resolving the abThere has been interna- ductions issue has been so
In an example of how thefamilies are passing on their tional coordination on this important,” Nishino Junya, acrusade to the next genera- issue. In 2019, U.S. President professor of political sciencetion, Mr. Yokota Takuya reat Keio University, said at thecently succeeded the latesymposium. “PartnershipMr. Iizuka as head of the Aswith Japan’s ally the U.S.,
sociation of Families of Vicwith which North Korea istims Kidnapped by Northkeen to improve relations, isKorea, while the younger Mr.
indispensable…As mentioned
Iizuka became secretaryby the families of the abductgeneral.
ees, resolution of the abduc“Forty-four years havetions issue is urgent. We
passed since my sister washave no luxury of time. So,abducted. I have to fight as The U.S. Congress passed resolutions
policy coordination must beaboutDavidSneddon,anAmerican
whothe third head of our associdone immediately and Japandisappeared in China in 2004.
ation, filling me with silent
must take the lead.”but profound anger,” said Mr.
“The Biden administration
Yokota. “My message to “Only despotic regimes
has repeatedly emphasized
Chairman Kim Jong Un is if and leaders without
human rights as a pillar of
all abductees are returned, conscience would do
our U.S. foreign policy …
suchinhumaneacts.”
North Korea and Japan can[and] has also underlined
James Sneddon multilateralism as anotherensure a bright future andrealize peace. I look forward
to your brave, courageousdecision.”
Mr. Yokota and Mr. Iizuka
spoke about the families’
suffering at an international
symposium hosted by theGovernment of Japan to callfor international cooperation
to resolve the abductions
issue as a global issue. Heldon December 11, 2021, inTokyo to highlight North
Korean Human Rights
Abuses Awareness Week,
the event brought together
relatives of abductees fromJapan and other countries,
students, politicians andinternational affairs experts,
both in person and online.

PAID BY The Government of Japan Headquarters for the Abduction Issue

pillar,” said Greg Scarlatoiu,
Executive Director of theCommittee for Human Rights
in North Korea. “Howeverdifficult it may be, the international community mustresolve this critical issue.”“We will make utmost
efforts to realize the returnhome of all abductees at theearliest possible date without missing any chance,”
said Matsuno Hirokazu, Chief
Cabinet Secretary and Minister in Charge of the Abduction Issue.
The Government of Japan
continues to push for international cooperation to resolve the abductions issue.
This is an issue concerning
Japan’s sovereignty and thelives of its people. With close
cooperation with the international community including
the United States, Japan will
make its utmost efforts tobring our people home.

Matsuno Hirokazu, Chief Cabinet
Secretary and Minister in Charge of theAbduction Issue, says families must bereunited.

“We will make utmostefforts to realize the returnhome of all abductees at theearliest possible date
without missing any chance”
Matsuno Hirokazu