Overview
- On Oct. 23 at the Prime Minister's Office, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held her first meeting since taking office with families of Japanese abducted by North Korea.
- She vowed to "open a breakthrough," emphasized Japan's proactive lead, and said she is prepared to hold a summit with Kim Jong Un.
- She said she will raise the issue with world leaders, including President Donald Trump during his Oct. 27–29 visit to Japan, as the United States is arranging a separate meeting with the families.
- Attendees included Megumi Yokota’s mother Sakie and brother Takuya, former returnee Hitomi Soga, and representatives of 10 families totaling 15 participants who urged a Japan–North Korea summit.
- No date or North Korean reply on a leader-level meeting has been announced, and families stressed urgency after 23 years without additional returns since 2002.