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Symposium on N. Korea's abductions

TOKYO, Japan, Dec. 14 Kyodo - Takuya Yokota, head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, speaks at a government-sponsored symposium on the issue in Tokyo on Dec. 13, 2025. He called for the early return of abductees including his older sister Megumi, who was abducted by North Korea in 1977 aged 13. (Kyodo)

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Symposium on N. Korea's abductions

Symposium on N. Korea's abductions

Takuya Yokota, head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, speaks at a government-sponsored symposium on the issue in Tokyo on Dec. 13, 2025. He called for the early return of abductees including his older sister Megumi, who was abducted by North Korea in 1977 aged 13.

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Pope Leo XIV Visits The Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf - Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV Visits The Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf - Lebanon

Pope Leo prays at tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf at the Monastery of St. Maroun in Annaya, Lebanon on December 1, 2025, second day of his Apostolic visit to Lebanon. Canonized in 1977, this Lebanese Maronite monk and hermit lived from 1828 to 1898 and led a life of extreme asceticism. During his life, he obtained a wide reputation for holiness, and for his ability to unite Christians, Muslims and Druze. He is known among Lebanese Christians as the ‘Miracle Monk of Lebanon. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Pope Leo XIV Visits The Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf - Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV Visits The Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf - Lebanon

Pope Leo prays at tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf at the Monastery of St. Maroun in Annaya, Lebanon on December 1, 2025, second day of his Apostolic visit to Lebanon. Canonized in 1977, this Lebanese Maronite monk and hermit lived from 1828 to 1898 and led a life of extreme asceticism. During his life, he obtained a wide reputation for holiness, and for his ability to unite Christians, Muslims and Druze. He is known among Lebanese Christians as the ‘Miracle Monk of Lebanon. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Pope Leo XIV Visits The Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf - Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV Visits The Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf - Lebanon

Pope Leo greets pilgrims at the Monastery of St. Maroun in Annaya, Lebanon on December 1, 2025, after a prayer at the tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf , during the second day of his Apostolic visit to Lebanon. Canonized in 1977, this Lebanese Maronite monk and hermit lived from 1828 to 1898 and led a life of extreme asceticism. During his life, he obtained a wide reputation for holiness, and for his ability to unite Christians, Muslims and Druze. He is known among Lebanese Christians as the ‘Miracle Monk of Lebanon. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Pope Leo XIV Visits The Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf - Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV Visits The Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf - Lebanon

Pope Leo prays at tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf at the Monastery of St. Maroun in Annaya, Lebanon on December 1, 2025, second day of his Apostolic visit to Lebanon. Canonized in 1977, this Lebanese Maronite monk and hermit lived from 1828 to 1898 and led a life of extreme asceticism. During his life, he obtained a wide reputation for holiness, and for his ability to unite Christians, Muslims and Druze. He is known among Lebanese Christians as the ‘Miracle Monk of Lebanon. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Pope Leo XIV Visits The Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf - Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV Visits The Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf - Lebanon

Pope Leo poses with the monks at the Monastery of St. Maroun in Annaya, Lebanon on December 1, 2025, after a prayer at the tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf , during the second day of his Apostolic visit to Lebanon. Canonized in 1977, this Lebanese Maronite monk and hermit lived from 1828 to 1898 and led a life of extreme asceticism. During his life, he obtained a wide reputation for holiness, and for his ability to unite Christians, Muslims and Druze. He is known among Lebanese Christians as the ‘Miracle Monk of Lebanon. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Pope Leo XIV Visits The Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf - Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV Visits The Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf - Lebanon

Pope Leo prays at tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf at the Monastery of St. Maroun in Annaya, Lebanon on December 1, 2025, second day of his Apostolic visit to Lebanon. Canonized in 1977, this Lebanese Maronite monk and hermit lived from 1828 to 1898 and led a life of extreme asceticism. During his life, he obtained a wide reputation for holiness, and for his ability to unite Christians, Muslims and Druze. He is known among Lebanese Christians as the ‘Miracle Monk of Lebanon. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

  •  
Pope Leo XIV Visits The Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf - Lebanon

Pope Leo XIV Visits The Tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf - Lebanon

Pope Leo prays at tomb of Saint Charbel Makhlouf at the Monastery of St. Maroun in Annaya, Lebanon on December 1, 2025, second day of his Apostolic visit to Lebanon. Canonized in 1977, this Lebanese Maronite monk and hermit lived from 1828 to 1898 and led a life of extreme asceticism. During his life, he obtained a wide reputation for holiness, and for his ability to unite Christians, Muslims and Druze. He is known among Lebanese Christians as the ‘Miracle Monk of Lebanon. Photo by (EV) Vatican Media/ABACAPRESS.COM

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[Breaking News]Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

KAWASAKI, Japan, Nov. 12 Kyodo - Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, meets the press in Kawasaki near Tokyo on Nov. 11, 2025, ahead of the 48th anniversary on Nov. 15 of her abduction. (Kyodo)

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48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (C) meets the press during a visit to the site in Niigata, northwest of Tokyo, where Megumi Yokota was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, together with her younger twin brothers Tetsuya (L) and Takuya on Nov. 15, 2025, the 48th anniversary of her abduction.

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48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (C) meets the press during a visit to the site in Niigata, northwest of Tokyo, where Megumi Yokota was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, together with her younger twin brothers Tetsuya (L) and Takuya on Nov. 15, 2025, the 48th anniversary of her abduction.

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48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara (far R) visits the site in Niigata, northwest of Tokyo, where Megumi Yokota was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, together with her younger twin brothers Tetsuya (2nd from R) and Takuya (2nd from L) on Nov. 15, 2025, the 48th anniversary of her abduction.

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48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

Sakie Yokota (on screen), mother of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, speaks online at an event in Niigata, northwest of Tokyo, on Nov. 15, 2025, the 48th anniversary of her abduction.

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48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

48th anniv. of Megumi Yokota's abduction

Sakie Yokota (on screen), mother of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, speaks online at an event in Niigata, northwest of Tokyo, on Nov. 15, 2025, the 48th anniversary of her abduction.

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Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother

Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother

Sakie Yokota (far R), 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, speaks to junior high school students during an event in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2025, ahead of the 48th anniversary on Nov. 15 of her abduction.

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Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother

Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother

Sakie Yokota (C), 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, prays during an event in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2025, ahead of the 48th anniversary on Nov. 15 of her abduction.

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Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother

Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother

Sakie Yokota (back, 2nd from R), 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, attends an event in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2025, ahead of the 48th anniversary on Nov. 15 of her abduction.

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Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother

Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother

Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, speaks during an event in Tokyo on Nov. 13, 2025, ahead of the 48th anniversary on Nov. 15 of her abduction.

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Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, meets the press in Kawasaki near Tokyo on Nov. 11, 2025, ahead of the 48th anniversary on Nov. 15 of her abduction.

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Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, meets the press in Kawasaki near Tokyo on Nov. 11, 2025, ahead of the 48th anniversary on Nov. 15 of her abduction.

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Rally of abductees' families

Rally of abductees' families

Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea at age 13 in 1977, speaks at a rally in Tokyo organized by the abductees' families and their supporters, calling for the abductees' early return on Nov. 3, 2025.

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Rally of abductees' families

Rally of abductees' families

Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea at age 13 in 1977, speaks at a rally in Tokyo organized by the abductees' families and their supporters, calling for the abductees' early return on Nov. 3, 2025.

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Rally of abductees' families

Rally of abductees' families

Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea at age 13 in 1977, speaks at a rally in Tokyo organized by the abductees' families and their supporters, calling for the abductees' early return on Nov. 3, 2025.

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Rally of abductees' families

Rally of abductees' families

Takuya Yokota, head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, speaks at a rally in Tokyo on Nov. 3, 2025, calling for their early return. Yokota is the younger brother of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted by North Korea in 1977 aged 13.

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U.S. secretary of state meets with relatives of Japanese abductees

U.S. secretary of state meets with relatives of Japanese abductees

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (front row, 3rd from R) meets with relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, at the State Guest House in Tokyo on Oct. 28, 2025. Takuya Yokota (front row, 2nd from L), head of a group representing the families, attended the meeting with his mother Sakie (front row, 3rd from L), whose daughter, Megumi, was abducted by North Korea in 1977 aged 13. (Pool photo)

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Japan PM Takaichi meets kin of abductees

Japan PM Takaichi meets kin of abductees

Sakie Yokota, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, speaks during a press conference after attending a meeting with new Japanese Prime Minster Sanae Takaichi at the premier's office in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2025.

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Japan PM Takaichi meets kin of abductees

Japan PM Takaichi meets kin of abductees

Takuya Yokota (L), head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, and his mother, Sakie, meet the press after attending a meeting with new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the premier's office in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2025. Takuya's sister, Megumi, was abducted by North Korea in 1977 aged 13.

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Japan PM Takaichi meets kin of abductees

Japan PM Takaichi meets kin of abductees

New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets with families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, including Takuya Yokota, head of a group representing them, at the premier's office in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2025. Takuya's sister, Megumi, was abducted by North Korea in 1977 aged 13.

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Japan PM Takaichi meets kin of abductees

Japan PM Takaichi meets kin of abductees

New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets with families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, including Takuya Yokota, head of a group representing them, at the premier's office in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2025. Takuya's sister, Megumi, was abducted by North Korea in 1977 aged 13.

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Japan PM Takaichi meets kin of abductees

Japan PM Takaichi meets kin of abductees

New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi (R) meets with families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, including Takuya Yokota, head of a group representing them, at the premier's office in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2025. Takuya's sister, Megumi, was abducted by North Korea in 1977 aged 13.

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Japan PM Takaichi meets kin of abductees

Japan PM Takaichi meets kin of abductees

Takuya Yokota (R), head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, and his mother Sakie attend a meeting with new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the premier's office in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2025. Takuya's sister, Megumi, was abducted by North Korea in 1977 aged 13.

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Japan PM Takaichi meets kin of abductees

Japan PM Takaichi meets kin of abductees

Takuya Yokota, head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, and his mother Sakie attend a meeting with new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi at the premier's office in Tokyo on Oct. 23, 2025. Takuya's sister, Megumi, was abducted by North Korea in 1977 aged 13.

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[Breaking news]Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

KAWASAKI, Japan, Oct. 2 Kyodo - Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, meets the press in Kawasaki near Tokyo on Oct. 2, 2025, ahead of her 61st birthday on Oct. 5, while showing a book the mother read to the daughter when she was a child. (Kyodo)

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Illustration - Paris

Illustration - Paris

FRANCE. PARIS (75) 13TH ARRONDISSEMENT. THE TOWERS AND BUILDINGS OF THE OLYMPIADES DISTRICT DESIGNED BETWEEN 1969 AND 1977 BY THE CHIEF ARCHITECT MICHEL HOLLEY Photo by Jean Francois Rollinger/Only Paris/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, meets the press in Kawasaki near Tokyo on Oct. 2, 2025, ahead of her 61st birthday on Oct. 5.

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Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, meets the press in Kawasaki near Tokyo on Oct. 2, 2025, ahead of her 61st birthday on Oct. 5, while showing a book the mother read to the daughter when she was a child.

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Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, meets the press in Kawasaki near Tokyo on Oct. 2, 2025, ahead of her 61st birthday on Oct. 5.

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Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, meets the press in Kawasaki near Tokyo on Oct. 2, 2025, ahead of her 61st birthday on Oct. 5, while showing a book the mother read to the daughter when she was a child.

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Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, meets the press in Kawasaki near Tokyo on Oct. 2, 2025, ahead of her 61st birthday on Oct. 5.

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Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Abductee Megumi Yokota's mother meets press

Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea in 1977 at age 13, meets the press in Kawasaki near Tokyo on Oct. 2, 2025, ahead of her 61st birthday on Oct. 5.

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Illustration - Lyon

Illustration - Lyon

FRANCE. RHONE (69). LYON. 3RD DISTRICT. THE SCULPTURE ? CRONCELHORBE ? OF THE AMERICAN ARTIST COMBY AND THE TOWER OF LA PART-DIEU, ALSO KNOWN AS THE PENCIL, BUILT IN 1977. Photo by Antoine Lorgnier/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Junior high school student meeting on abductions by N. Korea

Junior high school student meeting on abductions by N. Korea

Takuya Yokota, head of a group representing the families of Japanese abducted by North Korea, speaks to over 60 junior high school students from across Japan during a government-sponsored meeting in Tokyo on Aug. 8, 2025, to enhance public awareness, especially among young people, of the abduction issue. His sister Megumi was abducted at age 13 in 1977.

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U.N. symposium on N. Korea's abductions

U.N. symposium on N. Korea's abductions

Takuya Yokota (R), head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, and Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (C), take part in an online U.N. symposium on the abduction issue from Tokyo on June 26, 2025. Yokota's sister, Megumi, was abducted by North Korea in 1977 aged 13.

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U.N. symposium on N. Korea's abductions

U.N. symposium on N. Korea's abductions

Takuya Yokota, head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, takes part in an online U.N. symposium on the abduction issue from Tokyo on June 26, 2025. Yokota's sister, Megumi, was abducted by North Korea in 1977 aged 13.

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Illustration - Paris

Illustration - Paris

FRANCE. PARIS (75) 13TH ARRONDISSEMENT. THE TOWERS AND BUILDINGS OF THE OLYMPIADES DISTRICT DESIGNED BETWEEN 1969 AND 1977 BY THE CHIEF ARCHITECT MICHEL HOLLEY Photo by Jean-Francois Rollinger/Only Paris/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Abductees' families hold rally

Abductees' families hold rally

Sakie Yokota, 89, whose daughter Megumi was abducted by North Korea at age 13 in 1977, speaks during a rally staged by Japanese abductees' families and their supporters in Tokyo on May 24, 2025. About 800 people, including Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, attended.

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Abductees' families hold rally

Abductees' families hold rally

Takuya Yokota, head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, speaks during a rally in Tokyo on May 24, 2025, holding a picture of abductee Keiko Arimoto whose father Akihiro died in February at age 96. Yokota's sister, Megumi, was abducted by North Korea in 1977 aged 13.

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Abductees' families meet with PM

Abductees' families meet with PM

Takuya Yokota, head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades earlier, speaks to journalists after he and other group members met with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba at the premier's office in Tokyo on May 22, 2025. Yokota's sister, Megumi, was abducted in 1977 at age 13.

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Relatives of abductees meet with new U.S. ambassador

Relatives of abductees meet with new U.S. ambassador

Takuya Yokota (2nd from R), head of a group representing the families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades earlier, and his mother Sakie (C) hold a press conference in Tokyo on May 15, 2025, after they and other group members met with new U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass. Takuya Yokota's sister Megumi was abducted in 1977 at age 13.

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