World · East Asia & Pacific · 1 hr ago
Megumi Yokota’s mother renews call to resolve North Korea abductions
Sakie Yokota renewed her call for a solution to the abduction of her daughter, Megumi, by North Korea.
Megumi was 13 when she disappeared in 1977 on her way home from school in Japan’s Niigata Prefecture.
Nearly 49 years later, her mother said she still wonders what her daughter’s life is like.
Japan officially lists 17 citizens as abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, and five were returned in 2002.
Megumi’s brother said the issue needs top-level talks between Japan and North Korea, rather than working-level discussions.
Another abductee who returned to Japan, Hitomi Soga, is still waiting for her mother, who was taken with her.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pledged to seek a breakthrough and hopes to hold a summit with North Korea’s leader.
Sakie Yokota, 90, renewed her call to resolve the North Korea abduction issue, 49 years after her daughter Megumi disappeared.
Megumi was 13 when she was abducted on her way home from school in Niigata Prefecture on Nov. 15, 1977.
At an event attended by around 700 people, her brother Tetsuya said the issue could be solved through talks between the countries’ leaders.
Japan officially lists 17 citizens as abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s; five were repatriated in 2002.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has pledged to seek a breakthrough and expressed hope for a summit with North Korea’s leader.
- Who
- Sakie Yokota renewed the call. Her daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea.
- What
- Sakie called for a solution to the abduction issue.
- When
- The call was made at an event on Saturday. The 49th anniversary of Megumi’s abduction was Sunday.
- Where
- The event was held in Niigata, Japan, with Sakie joining by video link.
- Why
- Megumi was abducted in 1977, and the issue remains unresolved.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Megumi Yokota was abducted on her way home from school in Niigata Prefecture.
Five of the Japanese nationals officially listed as abducted by North Korea were repatriated.
Sakie Yokota joined an event by video link, and her brother spoke to around 700 attendees.
The anniversary of Megumi Yokota’s abduction was marked.
- Megumi’s age
- 13 when abducted
- Abduction date
- Nov. 15, 1977
- Japan’s official list
- 17 citizens abducted by North Korea
- Repatriations
- Five people returned in 2002
- Event attendance
- Around 700 people
What people are saying
I'm always thinking about what her life might be like
This is an issue that can be solved at the summit level, not at the working level
I cannot sit still thinking about how she might be spending each day
breakthrough