Families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea have urged the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump to address the abduction issue during any potential summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. On Wednesday, representatives from the Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea, along with a cross-party group of Japanese lawmakers, met with senior officials from the U.S. National Security Council in Washington, including Ivan Kanapathy.

Takuya Yokota, head of the families’ association and younger brother of Megumi Yokota—abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13—called for the prompt and simultaneous return of all abductees. Speaking at a news conference in Washington, Yokota emphasized the need for Kim Jong Un to make a “courageous decision” on the matter. During the meeting, Yokota shared photographs of his sister with U.S. officials to illustrate the human impact of North Korea’s actions, highlighting the personal and ongoing toll on affected families.

The U.S. officials pledged continued support for a swift resolution to the abduction issue, reaffirming the importance Washington places on the matter as part of its broader engagement with North Korea.

In the course of their visit, the Japanese delegation also met with Senator Bill Hagerty, a former U.S. ambassador to Japan during Trump’s first term, and senior figures from the U.S. State Department. Joining the delegation were Koichiro Iizuka, eldest son of Yaeko Taguchi—who was abducted at age 22—and former Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato.

The abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea in the late 1970s and early 1980s remains a deeply sensitive and unresolved issue. The Japanese government and affected families have long sought to secure answers and the return of those taken. The upcoming dialogue between Trump and Kim Jong Un offers a potential opportunity to bring renewed international attention to the abduction cases.