The Government of Japan hosted an International Symposium - International cooperation to resolve the abduction issue as a global issue -
The International Symposium hosted by the Government of Japan, - International cooperation to resolve the abduction issue as a global issue -, was held at the Iino Hall in Tokyo on Saturday, December 12, 2020.
This symposium was held as one of the events of North Korean Human Rights Abuses Awareness Week, December 10 to 16 every year. At the symposium, families of the victims from Japan and overseas appealed their hardships and experts on North Korea from Japan and overseas discussed international cooperation to resolve the abduction issue as a global issue, to explore the way forward to realize the return of all abductees to Japan as soon as possible.
This year, some of the speakers are participating remotely or with prerecorded videos due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
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Part 1 Commendation Ceremony for Composition Competition on the Abduction Issue
(1) KATO Katsunobu, Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister in Charge of the Abduction Issue, commended the award winners
(three of Junior High School Category, three of High School Category, and one of English Essay Category).
(2) The First Prize winners recited their essays and remarks on the visit of the scene of the abduction case in Niigata city.
List of award winners
[First prize]
Junior High School Category:
YAMAGUCHI Miyu (Kagoshima Municipal Sakamoto Junior High School, 8th grade)
High School Category:
YAMAGUCHI Rinka (Ehime Prefectural Imabari Kita High School, 11th grade)
English Essay Category:
HIRANO Eri (Tokyo Metropolitan Kokusai High School, 11th grade)
[Second prize]
Junior High School Category:
TAKAYAMA Manaka (Seki Municipal Midorigaoka Junior High School, 9th grade)
NIGORISAWA Mihane (Shizuoka Municipal Ando Junior High School, 9th grade)
High School Category:
MINAMI Soma (Keiai Gakuen Senior High School, 10th grade)
SOMIYA Madoka (St. Mary's Girls' High School, 11th grade)
Part 2 International Symposium
(1) Opening remarks (Mr. KATO Katsunobu, Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister in Charge of the Abduction Issue)
(2) Appeal by the Families of the Victims
Presenters: Mr. YOKOTA Takuya (Secretary-General of the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea)
Mr. IIZUKA Koichiro (Deputy Secretary-General of the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea)
Mr. IMAI Hideki (President of the Family Association of the Missing Persons Probably Related to the DPRK)
（participating remotely）
Mr. Fred and Ms. Cindy Warmbier (Parents of Mr. Otto Warmbier)（participating with prerecorded videos）
Mr. Gabriel Bumbea (Brother of Ms. Doina Bumbea)（participating with prerecorded videos）
Mr. Hwang In-cheol (Leader of the Association for Family Members of the 1969 KAL Kidnapping Victims)
（participating with prerecorded videos）
(3) Panel discussion
Moderator: Mr. HOSHINO Toshiya (Professor, Osaka School of International Public Policy, Osaka University, Japan)
Panelists: Mr. RI Sotetsu (Professor, Ryukoku University, Japan)
Mr. Evans J. R. Revere (Former Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs,
United States of America)（participating with prerecorded videos）
Mr. Jhe Seong-ho (Professor, Chung-Ang University, Former Human Rights Ambassador,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Republic of Korea)（participating remotely）
As Part 1, Commendation Ceremony for Composition Competition on the Abduction Issue was held. Mr. KATO Katsunobu, Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister in Charge of the Abduction Issue, commended the award winners and the first prize winners recited their essays and remarks on the visit of the scene of the abduction case.
As Part 2, International Symposium was held.
Mr. KATO, gave a speech as follows in his opening remarks.
Both of the abductees and their families are aging. This year, Mrs. ARIMOTO Kayoko passed away in February, and Mr. YOKOTA Shigeru in June. There is no time to lose. Japan itself needs to tackle the abductions issue proactively. At the 75th Session of the UN General Assembly, Prime Minister SUGA stated, ’’I am ready to meet with Chairman Kim Jong-un without any conditions.”, “Establishing a constructive relationship between Japan and North Korea will not only serve the interests of both sides but will also greatly contribute to regional peace and stability.” Although North Korea is said to be facing difficulties, such as the novel coronavirus and flood, NK has wealthy natural resources and a diligent labor force. Japan wants to create a bright future with North Korea. To that end, Japan will break the shell of mutual distrust and seek to normalize its relations with North Korea through the resolution of the nuclear, missile issues and most important abductions issue, as well as settlement of the unfortunate past. It is my mission and policy as Minister in Charge of the Abduction Issue. We will continue to directly appeal to North Korea.
After this opening remarks, the families of the victims appealed their hardships in their own words. After that, during the panel discussion, experts on North Korea from Japan and overseas discussed International cooperation to resolve the abduction issue as a global issue.
The symposium was aired live to North Korea on the radio program by the Government of Japan and the United States Agency for Global Media.
