Japan: Collective Commitment Crucial to Resolve North Korean Abduction Issue

Japan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Yamazaki Kazuyuki, has highlighted the importance of collective attention and commitment from the international community in resolving the issue of abductions carried out by North Korea against citizens of Japan, the United States, and Thailand. “Our collective attention and commitment play a vital role in resolving the abduction issue, and their participation highlights the sustained support of the international community in addressing this critical matter,” Yamazaki said during a UN Online Symposium on the Abduction Issue, monitored from Jakarta on Wednesday (24/6). He stated that Japan has been actively working to promptly resolve the issue before the international community through close cooperation with its partners, including at the UN. According to him, awareness of the issue must continue to be strengthened due to the urgency of the humanitarian situation caused by the abductions conducted by North Korea between 1977 and 1983. The abduction issue by North Korea is not merely a historical event, but an ongoing problem, as the victims are still deprived of their freedom and unable to return home, making it an international challenge requiring immediate resolution. “We must continue to strengthen awareness of the urgent humanitarian nature of this abduction issue, especially when considering the extraordinary suffering endured by the victims and their families over many years,” he said. Yamazaki noted that the international community has repeatedly urged North Korea to promptly resolve the abduction issue. This call is reflected in the annual UN General Assembly resolution on the Situation of Human Rights in North Korea, which is adopted by consensus by UN member states. “In this regard, I would like to highlight the report issued by the OHCHR last autumn on the developments in the human rights situation in North Korea since 2014,” he said. The report noted that no progress has been made in improving the human rights situation in North Korea, and no resolution has been reached on the abduction issue. This assessment also underlined the urgent need to redouble collective efforts with the international community.