Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi seeks a summit with North Korea on return of abducted Japanese nationals

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has sent a message to the North Korean government, proposing to hold a summit, Kyodo News reported on Monday.

Takaichi announced the proposal during an assembly concerning the return of Japanese nationals, who were abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, according to the news agency.

The Japanese government officially lists 17 people as abducted during that period and suspects Pyongyang's involvement in many other disappearances, Kyodo reported on 23 October.

Commitment to the abductees' families

Sanae Takaichi's comments came after her first meeting with the families of the abducted Japanese nationals since taking office as Japan's first female leader on 21 October.

Takaichi, known for her conservative political stance and hawkish views on diplomacy and security, said earlier that she is “prepared” for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

The 64-year-old leader, who shares the same conservative ideology as the late Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, vowed to “find a breakthrough at all costs,” and “never miss any opportunity to realize the early return” of the abductees.

She designated the abduction issue as a “top priority” for her administration, Kyodo reported.

Families of the victims demand immediate return

Takuya Yokota, the head of the family group and whose older sister Megumi was abducted, pressed the PM for the “immediate and collective return of all the abductees while the generation of their parents is alive.”

Yokota warned that the families will protest against the government and seek stronger, specific sanctions on North Korea if their demand is not met on time.

Sakie Yokota, the 89-year-old mother of Megumi, was also present at the meeting. Following the discussion, Yokota expressed hope that Takaichi, whom she described as a “firm” leader, would be able to solve the issue, Kyodo reported.

What was North Korea's response to the claims?

Five out of the 17 abducted people on record were repatriated in October 2002 after landmark talks between the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi in Pyongyang.

However, no significant progress has been reported since then, as North Korea continues to assert that the abduction issue has been resolved.

The victims' families also met with US President Donald Trump, accompanied by the Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi, on 28 October, while holding photos of their lost family members.

No Trump-Kim meeting has been formally scheduled after that, but Trump has repeatedly raised the prospect of an impromptu visit to the DMZ, CNN reported.