Washington confirms support for Tokyo
During the summit in Tokyo, US President Donald Trump met with the families of Japanese citizens kidnapped decades ago by North Korea, reiterating Washington’s commitment to resolving an issue that has long weighed on relations between Tokyo and Pyongyang.
The issue remains a central point in relations between the two countries, which have no official diplomatic ties, with the Japanese government continuing to demand the return of its citizens and maintaining economic sanctions against Pyongyang. The meeting organized in the morning – and which took place during the bilateral meeting with the new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office just a week ago – highlights the importance that the two allied countries attribute to regional security, we read in a note, and to the rights of the families affected by the kidnappings, emphasizing the need for greater diplomatic pressure towards Pyongyang.
According to the Japanese government’s official list, at least 17 citizens were kidnapped between the late 1970s and early 1980s, with the aim of training future North Korean agents proficient in Japanese language and culture. In 2002, North Korea officially admitted to 13 abductions and allowed the return of five victims, while the fate of the others remains unknown.
