State Minister Sato visited Washington, D.C., the United States of America, together with the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN), the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea (NARKN) and the Committee of Congressional Members to Act for the Early Rescue of Japanese Victims Abducted by North Korea, from May 2 to 5.
State Minister Sato visited Washington, D.C., the United States of America, together with the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea (AFVKN), the National Association for the Rescue of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea (NARKN) and the Committee of Congressional Members to Act for the Early Rescue of Japanese Victims Abducted by North Korea, from May 2 to 5.1. State Minister Sato and AFVKN, NARKN and congressional members had meetings with Mr. Stephen Biegun, Special Representative for North Korea and Representative French Hill on May 2, and with Mr. Matt Pottinger, Deputy Assistant to the President and NSC Senior Director for Asia on May 3. In the meetings, they listened to the families’ longing and we called for their further cooperation to realize the early return of the abductees.
2. On May 3, the seminar on the abductions issue co-hosted by Hudson Institute, the Government of Japan and the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK) was held at Hudson Institute.
For part one, as remarks by the co-hosts, State Minister Sato explained the details of the abductions issue and the program of this seminar, and mentioned that he really hoped that this seminar would enhance cooperation between Japan and the US at various levels. Mr. Takuya Yokota and Mr. Koichiro Iizuka, who are the abductees’ families of Japan, also attended and appealed their longing for reunion with their loved ones.
From the US, Ms. Cindy Warmbier, mother of Mr. Otto Warmbier, and Mr. Michael Sneddon, brother of Mr. David Sneddon, furthermore from the ROK, Mr. Hwang Incheol, Leader of the Association for Family Members of the 1969 KAL Kidnapping Victims, attended and conveyed their voices to the audience.
For part two, discussion among the various participants such as congresspersons, think-tankers and NGOs was performed. Through this seminar, cooperation between Japan and the US was confirmed at various levels to resolve the abductions issue as a global issue.
A video of this seminar is uploaded to the website of Hudson Institute. The link is HERE.
