Washington, United States – US President Donald Trump met Tuesday with family members of Japanese citizens abducted by North Korea decades ago, affirming his commitment to their swift return to their loved ones. The meeting took place at the Government Guest House in Tokyo, in the presence of new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
During the meeting, Trump said, “I’m totally with them, and the United States is totally with them.” He emphasized that the issue of the abductees remains his top priority. Trump exchanged words with some of the victims’ relatives, including Saki Yokota, the mother of Megumi, who was abducted in 1977 at the age of 13. Upon seeing photos of the victims, Trump described them as “so beautiful.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other members of the Washington delegation, as well as senior Japanese officials, attended the meeting. Before leaving, Trump emphasized, “We will do everything we can.”
For his part, US State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott stated that Rubio thanked the families for “continuing to advocate for their loved ones and share their stories.”
Trump and Rubio also met with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara. They affirmed U.S. support for Japan in reaching an immediate resolution to the abduction issue.
Japan officially records 17 of its citizens as victims of abduction by North Korea during the 1970s and 1980s. North Korean agents are suspected of involvement in other disappearances. Five of them were repatriated to Japan in 2002, while no tangible progress has been made regarding the others.
This meeting comes amid Trump’s repeated desire to strengthen diplomatic exchanges with North Korea, despite the collapse of denuclearization talks in 2019 and the lack of formal diplomatic relations between Japan and North Korea.
Following the meeting, the families held a press conference, at which Saki Yokota said, “I think something good will happen.”
