Kyodo World Service, August 8th, 2007
Relatives of Japanese abductees on Wednesday showed mixed
reactions to a plan by North and South Korea to hold their first
summit talks since 2000 later this month, with some hoping the event
would lead to progress in the abduction issue but others showing less
optimism that it would.
Shigeru Yokota, who heads a major group of abductees' relatives,
said, ''I hope the abduction issue will be raised as a topic in the
summit...But it may be difficult given that the six-nation talks have
focused on issues such as energy aid.''
Yokota, 74, is the father of Megumi Yokota, who was taken to
North Korea in 1977 when she was 13 and who has become a symbol for
many involved in the struggle to find out the truth behind the
abductions.
Shigeru's wife, Sakie, 71, said, ''Although it is hard to
speculate what motivated North Korea, I heartily pray that the
envisioned summit will move in a direction that could have positive
effects on the abduction issue.''
''There are abduction victims in 12 countries in the world
including Japan and South Korea. I believe people concerned in any of
the countries should share their feelings,'' Sakie said.
Kenichi Ichikawa, 62, whose brother Shuichi was abducted to
North Korea, indicated he has little hope that the summit will
positively affect the deadlocked abduction issue.
''South Korea has taken cold-hearted measures regarding the
abduction issue. The leaders of North and South Korea may talk about
possible unification. But I don't think they can refer to the
abduction issue involving the Japanese,'' he said.
North and South Korea announced Wednesday that North Korean
leader Kim Jong Il and South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun will hold
talks Aug. 28-30 in Pyongyang as the second inter-Korea summit
following the one in 2000.
Japan has said that at least 17 Japanese, including Yokota and
Ichikawa, were abducted to North Korea in the late 1970s and early
1980s, an emotional issue in Japan which has been a main obstacle to
the normalization of bilateral ties.
But North Korea has only admitted to having abducted 13 of the
17 and eight of the 13 died in the country. Five of the 17 returned
to Japan in 2002.
