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

On June 24th, 2026, Japan, Australia, the Republic of Korea, the United States and the European Union co-hosted the online symposium in the UN on the abductions issue.

The symposium was livestreamed on the UN Web TV (in English) and on the official YouTube channel of the Headquarters for the Abduction Issue, the Government of Japan (in Japanese, Korean, and Thai). The recordings are available in the archives through the links below.

Click here to watch the video in English.

Click here to watch the video in Korean.

Click here to watch the video in Thai.

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

2 Keynote Remarks
 KIHARA Minoru     Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister in charge of the Abduction Issue of Japan

3 Remarks by the Representatives of Co-hosts
Michael G. WALTZ 　 Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Representative of the United States to the UN
James LARSEN 　Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Australian to the UN
CHA Jihoon 　Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN
Stavros LAMBRINIDIS 　Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Head of Delegation of the European Union to the UN

4 Remarks by a Diet Member 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
 YOKOTA Takuya    Representative of the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea
 IIZUKA Koichiro    Secretary-General of the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea
 YOSHIMI Miho    Vice-Chairman of the Family Association of the Missing Persons Probably Related to the DPRK
 James SNEDDON    Brother of Mr. David SNEDDON
 Banjong PANCHOI    Nephew of Ms. Anocha PANCHOI

6 Panel Discussion
 [Moderator]
  NISHINO Junya    Professor of Keio University, Japan
 [Panelist]
  James HEENAN     Representative of the UN Human Rights Office in Seoul
  Bruce KLINGNER     Senior Fellow of the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation
  Greg SCARLATOIU     President and CEO of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK)

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


Following opening remarks by H.E. Mr. YAMAZAKI Kazuyuki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Japan to the UN, H.E. Mr. KIHARA Minoru, Chief Cabinet Secretary and Minister in charge of the Abduction issue of Japan, delivered keynote remarks.

Please click here to view the keynote remarks.

After the keynote remarks, remarks were delivered by the representatives of co-hosts and 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, followed by an appeal by the families of victims. During the panel discussion, panelists discussed the situation concerning North Korea, ways for the immediate resolution of the abductions issue, and so on.