Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, the US, and the EU co-hosted the Online Symposium in the UN on the Abductions Issue.

On June 27th, 2024, Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United States and the European Union co-hosted the online symposium in the UN on the abductions issue, as a side event of the UN, with participation of the members of permanent missions to the UN in New York.

To watch a video about the symposium, please click here.

1 Opening Remarks
 YAMAZAKI Kazuyuki    Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN

2 Keynote Remarks
 HAYASHI Yoshimasa    Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister in Charge of the Abductions Issue of Japan

3 Remarks by the representatives of co-hosts
 (1) Linda Thomas-Greenfield    Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Representative of the United States of America to the UN
 (2) James Larsen    Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Australia to the UN
 (3) Hwang Joonkook    Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN
 (4) Stavros Lambrinidis    Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of Delegation of the European Union to the UN

4 Remarks by a member of the House of Representatives of Japan
 FURUYA Keiji    Chairman of the Committee of Congressional Members to Act for the Early Rescue of Japanese Victims Abducted by North Korea

5 Appeal by the Families of Victims
 (1) YOKOTA Takuya    Representative of the Association of Families of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea
 (2) IIZUKA Koichiro    Secretary-General of the Association of Families of Japanese Kidnapped by North Korea
 (3) SASAKI Michiko    Member of the Family Association of the Missing Persons Probably Related to the DPRK
 (4) James Sneddon    Brother of Mr. David Sneddon
 (5) Banjong Panchoi    Nephew of Ms. Anocha Panchoi

6 Panel Discussion
 [Moderator]
  NISHINO Junya    Professor of Keio University, Japan
 [Panelist]
  Evans J. R. Revere    Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, the United States of America
  Lee Won-Deog    Professor of Kookmin University, the Republic of Korea

7 Closing Remarks
 YAMAZAKI Kazuyuki    Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN

 Following opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador YAMAZAKI Kazuyuki, Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN, H.E. Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister in Charge of the Abductions issue of Japan, delivered keynote remarks.

If you would like to watch the keynote remarks, please click here.

After the keynote remarks, remarks by the representatives of co-host, remarks by a member of the House of Representatives of Japan by H.E. Mr. FURUYA Keiji, Chairman of the Committee of Congressional Members to Act for the Early Rescue of Japanese Victims Abducted by North Korea, and appeal by the families of victims followed. At the panel discussion, panelists discussed the current situation in North Korea, the ways to resolve the abductions issue, and so on.

This symposium was live-streamed on UN Web TV (in English) and the official YouTube Channel of the Headquarters for the Abduction Issue, the Government of Japan (in Japanese).