Japan’s Failure to Bring North Korea’s Abductees Home

Suspect Kim Hyon-hui taken to Gimpo Airport, Seoul. (© Jiji)

A press conference and discussion on “How to Report on North Korea” in the House of Councillors building, Nagatachō, Tokyo, in October 2002. Asahi Television’s Ishidaka Kenji is seated second from right. (© Jiji)

Prime Minister Koizumi Jun’ichirō became the first Japanese prime minister to visit North Korea in September 2002. (© Reuters)

The returning abductees descend the ramp of a government chartered plane, touching Japanese soil for the first time in 24 years at Haneda Airport, Tokyo, on October 15, 2002. (© Jiji)