The parents of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korea in November 1977, met their granddaughter, Kim Eun Gyong, for the first time in Ulan Bator from March 10 to 14. Japan needs to step up efforts to deepen dialogue with North Korea so that the issue of the abduction of Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korean agents in the 1970s and '80s can be resolved in a reasonable manner.
In doing so, Japan should be careful not to let itself be duped by North Korea, which could try for maximum diplomatic leverage without progressing toward a resolution of the abduction issue.
The Japanese government recognizes that 17 Japanese nationals have been kidnapped by North Korea. Five of them were allowed to return to Japan in October 2002 following a meeting in Pyongyang in September of that year between then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and Kim Jung Il, the late North Korean leader.