Japan's newly sworn-in prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said she seeks a direct summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un to resolve the decades-old abductions of around 17 Japanese citizens in the 1970s–80s. She pledged to pursue "concrete results" during her term and said Tokyo has already requested talks with Pyongyang. Takaichi stressed urgency—calling for action while victims' families remain in good health—and vowed close coordination with the United States and other allies.
Japan's PM Sanae Takaichi Seeks Face-to-Face Summit with Kim Jong Un to Resolve Decades-Old Abductions
Japan's newly sworn-in prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said she seeks a direct summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un to resolve the decades-old abductions of around 17 Japanese citizens in the 1970s–80s. She pledged to pursue "concrete results" during her term and said Tokyo has already requested talks with Pyongyang. Takaichi stressed urgency—calling for action while victims' families remain in good health—and vowed close coordination with the United States and other allies.
23:21, 03.11.2025Politics
Japan's new prime minister proposes direct talks with North Korea over abductions
Japan's newly appointed prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, said Monday she wants to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un directly to try to resolve the long-standing case of Japanese citizens abducted in the 1970s and 1980s.
Speaking at a Tokyo meeting on the abduction issue, Takaichi pledged to pursue "concrete results" and said she would do "everything during my term to have a breakthrough and resolve the matter." She added that Tokyo has already informed Pyongyang of its desire to hold a summit.
"There is no time to lose," Takaichi said. "Resolving this issue while the families are still in good health is essential for both Japan and North Korea to envision a future where both nations enjoy peace and prosperity."
Tokyo says around 17 Japanese civilians were abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. After a 2002 visit to North Korea by then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Pyongyang allowed five alleged abductees to return and has described the matter as resolved—an outcome Japan called "unacceptable." North Korea has maintained that eight of the remaining 12 abductees died and that four never entered North Korea.
In 2015, then-Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida disclosed that a series of talks had been held to discuss the abductions. Takaichi said Monday that she, like her predecessors, will make the case a government priority and that the issue affects "the lives of victims and national sovereignty."
Takaichi also said she will coordinate closely with the United States and other allies in pursuit of a resolution. She met last week with U.S. President Donald Trump and said she will continue to seek American support; Trump was quoted as saying, "I'm with them all the way, and the U.S. is with them all the way."
Takaichi assumed office less than two weeks ago and is Japan's first woman prime minister. She reiterated her intent to meet Kim Jong Un face-to-face, saying she will "take the lead myself, act boldly according to the situation and achieve concrete results."
What comes next
Any summit would require agreement from Pyongyang and coordination with Japan's allies. Takaichi's public commitment elevates the abduction issue early in her tenure and signals Tokyo's intent to combine diplomatic outreach with allied pressure to seek answers and, if possible, reunions or clarifications for victims' families.