U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to addressing North Korea’s abductions of Japanese citizens, promising to “do everything within our power” to help bring the victims home.
During his visit to Tokyo on October 28, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi met with members of the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea. The short meeting lasted about three minutes but carried deep emotional significance for the families.
Among those present was 89-year-old Sakie Yokota, mother of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted in 1977 at age 13. Trump posed for photos with 14 representatives and received a blue ribbon badge symbolizing the rescue movement. He assured them, “We always have this in mind,” and said he would wear the badge.
Afterward, the group met separately with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, pressing him to encourage Trump to raise the abduction issue directly with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un if a future U.S.–North Korea summit takes place.
Takuya Yokota, Megumi’s brother and head of the association, expressed optimism, saying Trump “seems genuinely focused on solving the abduction issue.” His mother added, “I sincerely pray he will speak with Kim and convince him to return the victims.”
When asked by reporters whether he intended to discuss the issue with Kim Jong Un, Trump replied, “We’ll see what’s going to happen. We’ve been so busy. But we’ll be discussing it.”
Trump, who previously met Kim three times during his first term, has indicated openness to renewing talks since beginning his second term in January. While U.S. officials said no meeting with Kim was currently planned during this Asia trip, Trump noted, “I’d love to meet with him, if he’d like to meet,” and hinted that extending his stay in the region for such talks “would be easy to do.”
The meeting highlighted Trump’s continuing diplomatic involvement in one of Japan’s most sensitive humanitarian and security issues — a topic that remains a key test of U.S.–Japan–North Korea relations.
