Families of Japanese abducted by N.Korea to make renewed plea in US

Families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea have arrived in the United States to seek support from US officials for the return of their loved ones.

The family members arrived at an airport outside Washington on Tuesday. They are Yokota Takuya, the younger brother of abductee Yokota Megumi, and Iizuka Koichiro, the son of abductee Taguchi Yaeko.

During their stay in the US capital through Saturday, Yokota and Iizuka will meet with senior US government officials and members of the Congress.

It's the first such visit to the US in four years. The trips had been put on hold since 2019 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Yokota Megumi's father, Shigeru, and the long-time leader of the families' group, Iizuka Shigeo, died during that period.

At the airport, Yokota said he will make impassioned pleas in his meetings so that the parents of abductees will be reunited with their loved ones while they are alive.

Iizuka said there is not much time left for the families. He said he wants to make people understand the abduction issue should be addressed before the issue of North Korea's nuclear and missile development.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230503_07/