Abduction Issue 　－　Overview of the Abduction Issue

Abductions of Japanese Citizens

 During the 1970s and 1980s, there was a string of incidents in which Japanese citizens disappeared under unnatural circumstances. North Korea is suspected of committing abduction in many of these incidents. To date, the Government of Japan (GOJ) has identified 17 citizens as victims of abduction by North Korea, and there are still other cases in which the possibility of abduction by North Korea cannot be ruled out.
 North Korea admitted for the first time in September 2002 that it had in fact abducted Japanese citizens, and five of them returned to Japan in October. However, the North Korean authorities have failed to provide credible accounts of the whereabouts of the remaining abductees, who are still awaited rescue, deprived of all freedoms and have been held captive by North Korea for about 30 years.
 The abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea is a matter of grave concern that affects the national sovereignty of Japan and the lives and safety of Japanese people. All of the remaining abductees should have their safety secured and we must bring them back to Japan immediately.
 At the First Japan-North Korea Summit Meeting (September 2002), North Korea informed Japan that only five abductees were surviving, eight had died, and there was no record of entry into North Korea for two. In October the same year, the “five living” abductees returned to Japan.
 After Second Japan-North Korea Summit Meeting in May 2004, family members of the five abductees returned to/arrive in Japan.
 However, forensic testing confirmed that the “remains” handed over and identified by North Korea as possibly those of Mr. Kaoru Matsuki in September 2002 belong to someone else. Also, DNA tests revealed that the “remains” North Korea presented as those of Ms. Megumi Yokota contained DNA from a different person. North Korea has provided neither sufficient information nor sufficient evidence about other abductees. North Korea’s response has been thoroughly lacking in good faith.
 In February 2006, Japan strongly reiterated its demands for North Korea to return the abductees, to reopen investigations to reveal the truth, and to extradite those responsible for carrying out abductions to Japanese authorities.
 In July 2006, North Korea launched ballistic missiles, and the GOJ responded by implementing measures against North Korea. The GOJ imposed additional sanctions against North Korea upon its announcement of a nuclear test (October 2006), its launching of more missiles (April 2009), and its announcement of another nuclear test (May 2009). The lack of concrete action by North Korea to resolve the abduction issue is also one of the reasons for these sanctions.
 In June 2008, North Korea agreed to carry out a new investigation into the abduction cases. In August the same year, Japan and North Korea agreed that as soon as North Korea launched the new, thorough investigation, Japan would remove some of the sanctions imposed against North Korea. However, North Korea is yet to start any investigation to fulfill this agreement.