Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga, who also serves as Minister in Charge of the Abduction Issue, attended the symposium on the abductions issue co-hosted by the governments of Australia, Japan, the US, and by the Delegation of the European Union, at UN Headquarters in New York, on May 10.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga, who also serves as Minister in Charge of the Abduction Issue, visited the United States of America and attended the symposium on the abductions issue co-hosted by the governments of Australia, Japan, the US, and by the Delegation of the European Union, at UN Headquarters in New York, on May 10.
In the symposium, the voices of the families including the abductees’
families were conveyed to the international community, and Chief Cabinet
Secretary Suga called for the understanding and cooperation of the international
community towards the immediate resolution of the abductions issue, respecting
the families’ feelings.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga mentioned during his remarks that we faced a critical moment, as family members were getting older, we would not miss any opportunity to act boldly towards the immediate resolution, and he really hoped that this symposium would enhance international cooperation to resolve the abductions issue as a global issue.
Mr. Takuya Yokota and Mr. Koichiro Iizuka, who are the abductees’ families of Japan, and Ms. Miho Yoshimi, who is the family of missing Japanese probably related to North Korea, also attended and appealed their longing for reunion with their loved ones.
From the US, Mr. Fred Warmbier, father of Mr. Otto Warmbier, and Mr. James Sneddon, brother of Mr. David Sneddon, furthermore from Thailand, Mr. Banjong Panchoi, nephew of Ms. Anocha Panchoi, attended and conveyed their voices to the audience.
During the panel discussion, experts from Japan, the US and the ROK discussed international cooperation to resolve the abductions issue as a global issue.
A video of this symposium is uploaded to the UN website. The link is HERE.
