Relatives of South Korean abductee Kim Young Nam headed home Wednesday after a four-day visit here to meet with Megumi Yokota's parents and boost cooperation between their countries on the abduction issue.
Kim's mother and sister met with Shigeru and Sakie Yokota, whose daughter is believed to have had a child with Kim after being kidnapped to North Korea.
Kim's mother, Choi Gye Wol, 78, and sister, Kim Young Ja, 48, also met with government officials to press Japan to collaborate with South Korea to rescue abductees from the reclusive state.
They also testified before a House of Representatives special committee on the abductions and traveled to Niigata, from where Yokota disappeared in 1977 at age 13 while on her way home from school.
"Our visit was very meaningful as we built a friendship with Mr. and Mrs. Yokota, and shared our feelings and thoughts," Kim Young Ja told reporters before departing from Niigata airport.