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Rally of abductees' families

Hitomi Soga, a Japanese woman who was abducted to North Korea in 1978 before being repatriated in 2002, speaks during a rally seeking the early return of other abductees in Tokyo on Nov. 3, 2025.

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Ex-abductee seeks early return of remaining abductees

Former Japanese abductee Hitomi Soga (R) collects signatures in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, on Oct. 5, 2025, calling for new Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi to pave the way for holding direct negotiations with North Korea to bring back all the remaining abductees, including her mother, to Japan. Soga, 66, returned from North Korea in 2002 following a Japan-North Korea summit in Pyongyang.

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Ex-abductee seeks early return of remaining abductees

Former Japanese abductee Hitomi Soga (R) collects signatures in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, on Oct. 5, 2025, calling for new Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi to pave the way for holding direct negotiations with North Korea to bring back all the remaining abductees, including her mother, to Japan. Soga, 66, returned from North Korea in 2002 following a Japan-North Korea summit in Pyongyang.

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Ex-abductee seeks early return of remaining abductees

Former Japanese abductee Hitomi Soga (L) collects signatures in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, on Oct. 5, 2025, calling for new Liberal Democratic Party President Sanae Takaichi to pave the way for holding direct negotiations with North Korea to bring back all the remaining abductees, including her mother, to Japan. Soga, 66, returned from North Korea in 2002 following a Japan-North Korea summit in Pyongyang.

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Former abductee Soga

Former Japanese abductee Hitomi Soga speaks during a rally in Saitama near Tokyo on Sept. 20, 2025, calling for a united effort to bring back all the remaining abductees to Japan. Soga, 66, returned from North Korea in 2002 following a Japan-North Korea summit in Pyongyang.

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Japanese ex-abductee Soga

Former Japanese abductee Hitomi Soga speaks during an interview in her hometown Sado, Niigata Prefecture, on Dec. 18, 2024. Soga, 65, was abducted to North Korea in 1978 before being repatriated in 2002.

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Petition to bring back those abducted to N. Korea

Hitomi Soga (far L), a Japanese woman who was abducted by North Korea in 1978 before being repatriated in 2002, collects signatures in Sado in Niigata Prefecture on Dec. 14, 2024, for a petition calling for the return of the remaining abductees, including her mother Miyoshi, who was kidnapped with her.

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Petition to bring back those abducted to N. Korea

Hitomi Soga (L), a Japanese woman who was abducted by North Korea in 1978 before being repatriated in 2002, collects signatures in Sado in Niigata Prefecture on Dec. 14, 2024, for a petition calling for the return of the remaining abductees, including her mother Miyoshi, who was kidnapped with her.

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Japanese ex-abductee at rally in northeastern Japan

Former Japanese abductee Hitomi Soga speaks during a rally in Akita city, northeastern Japan, partly hosted by Akita Prefecture on Nov. 30, 2024, to call for the return of Japanese abducted by North Korea. Soga, 65, was abducted to North Korea in 1978 before being repatriated in 2002.

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Rally of abductees' families

Hitomi Soga, a Japanese woman who was abducted to North Korea in 1978 before being repatriated in 2002, speaks during a rally seeking the early return of other abductees in Tokyo on Nov. 23, 2024.

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Event on North Korean abduction issue

Hitomi Soga, a Japanese woman who was abducted to North Korea in 1978 before being repatriated in 2002, speaks to reporters on Nov. 16, 2024, after attending an event in the central Japan city of Niigata, to mark the 47th anniversary of the abduction of Megumi Yokota. Yokota was abducted by North Korea at age 13 on Nov. 15, 1977, and has become a symbol of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s.

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Ex-Japan abductee speaks in western Japan

Hitomi Soga, a Japanese woman who was abducted to North Korea in 1978 before being repatriated in 2002, speaks to teachers at a high school in Zentsuji in the western Japan prefecture of Kagawa on Oct. 17, 2024.

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Ex-Japan abductee speaks in western Japan

Hitomi Soga, a Japanese woman who was abducted to North Korea in 1978 before being repatriated in 2002, speaks to teachers at a high school in Zentsuji in the western Japan prefecture of Kagawa on Oct. 17, 2024.

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Meeting on abduction issue

Hitomi Soga, a Japanese woman who was abducted to North Korea in 1978 before being repatriated in 2002, makes a speech during a gathering on the abduction issue in Kawaguchi near Tokyo on Jan. 27, 2024.

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Gathering in support of Japanese abductees by N. Korea

Tokyo, Japan Kyodo - Video taken on Nov. 23, 2023, shows the talk event between Sakie Yokota and Hitomi Soga at a gathering organized by fellow Christians in Support of Yokota in Tokyo. (Kyodo)

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Gathering in support of Japanese abductees by N. Korea

Sakie Yokota (L), whose daughter Megumi was abducted to North Korea at age 13 in 1977, talks with Hitomi Soga, a Japanese woman who was abducted to North Korea at age 19 in 1978 before being repatriated in 2002, in front of Megumi's image projected on the screen at a gathering organized by fellow Christians in support of Yokota in Tokyo on Nov. 23, 2023.

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Gathering in support of Japanese abductees by N. Korea

Sakie Yokota (L), whose daughter Megumi was abducted to North Korea at age 13 in 1977, talks with Hitomi Soga, a Japanese woman who was abducted to North Korea in 1978 before being repatriated in 2002, at a gathering organized by fellow Christians in support of Yokota in Tokyo on Nov. 23, 2023. Soga, who was 19 when she was abducted, lived with Megumi for about 18 months in North Korea.

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Petition calling for return of N. Korea abductees

Hitomi Soga (R), a Japanese woman who was abducted to North Korea in 1978 before being repatriated in 2002, collects signatures in Sado in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, on Aug. 18, 2023, for a petition calling for the return of the remaining abductees.

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Petition calling for return of N. Korea abductees

Hitomi Soga, a Japanese woman who was abducted to North Korea in 1978 before being repatriated in 2002, speaks to reporters in Sado in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, on Aug. 18, 2023, at an event to collect signatures for a petition calling for the return of the remaining abductees.

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Ex-Japan abductee to N. Korea meets PM Kishida

Hitomi Soga (C, L), a former Japanese abductee to North Korea, submits a letter of request to Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida (C ,R) at his office in Tokyo on July 5, 2023, asking the premier to hold summit talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to ensure all those abducted by the country can reunite with their families.

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Ex-Japan abductee to N. Korea meets PM Kishida

Hitomi Soga (L), a Japanese woman abducted to North Korea decades ago before being repatriated in 2002, meets with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at his office in Tokyo on July 5, 2023.

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N. Korean abduction victims' kin at concert for return of abductees

TOKYO, Japan - Shigeru and Sakie Yokota (far R, 2nd from R), parents of Megumi, a symbol of the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea, and Hitomi Soga (far L), a former abductee repatriated in 2002, attend a government-hosted concert in Tokyo on Dec. 8, 2014, for the return of the abductees.

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Soga joins campaign for prompt release of abduction victims

NIIGATA, Japan - Hitomi Soga (L), who was abducted by North Korea in 1978 and returned to Japan in 2002, engages in a signature-collection campaign in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, on Aug. 22, 2014, to urge the North Korean government for the prompt release of other abductees.

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Ex-abductee calls for return of other abduction victims

NIIGATA, Japan - Hitomi Soga (C), a Japanese national who was abducted by North Korea, asks people to sign a petition for the return of other abduction victims including her mother in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, in April 2014.

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Returned abductee Soga speaks in Sado

NIIGATA, Japan - Hitomi Soga, a Japanese national abducted by North Korea, speaks in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, on July 8, 2014, saying she hopes for the return of all abductees.

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Ex-abductee Soga's family arrives at Haneda, July 2004

TOKYO, Japan - Former abductee by North Korea Hitomi Soga (C), her husband Charles Jenkins and their first and second daughters Mika (L) and Brinda (back) arrive at Haneda airport in Tokyo in July 2004.

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Returned abductee Soga meets lawmakers

NIIGATA, Japan - Hitomi Soga (C), one of Japanese nationals who were abducted to North Korea but returned home later, attends a meeting in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 21, 2014, with members of a House of Representatives special committee on the abduction issue.

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Repatriated abductee still awaiting mother's return from N. Korea

TOKYO, Japan - This file photo shows repatriated Japanese abduction victim Hitomi Soga (2nd from R) being reunited with her American husband Charles Jenkins (R) and their North Korea-born daughters, Brinda (L) and Mika in Jakarta on July 9, 2004.

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Repatriated abductee still awaiting mother's return from N. Korea

NIIGATA, Japan - Repatriated Japanese abduction victim Hitomi Soga collects donations in her hometown Sado, Niigata Prefecture, on Oct. 7, 2012, for rescuing other abductees who may still be alive in North Korea, including her mother Miyoshi.

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Abductee thanks friend for advice upon 2002 return from N. Korea

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows five abduction victims -- Yasushi Chimura (R front), his wife Fukie (C front), Kaoru Hasuike and his wife Yukiko (center), and Hitomi Soga (upper left) -- returning to Japan from North Korea at Tokyo's Haneda airport on Oct. 15, 2002.

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Ex-abductee's husband

NIIGATA, Japan - Charles Jenkins, a former U.S. deserter who married Japanese abductee Hitomi Soga in North Korea in 1980, speaks during an interview in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, on Sept. 29, 2012.

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Ex-abductee Soga's husband Jenkins promotes Sado rice

TOKYO, Japan - Charles Jenkins (R), the 67-year-old husband of former abductee Hitomi Soga, participated in a event in Tokyo on Nov. 9 to help promote organic rice from Sado, an island in Niigata Prefecture where the couple now live after being allowed to leave North Korea.

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Ex-abductee Soga voices gratitude for support

SADO, Japan - Former abductee Hitomi Soga speaks at a news conference in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, on Oct. 17 as she marks the fifth anniversary of her repatriation from North Korea. Soga and four other Japanese abductees, abducted by North Korean agents in three separate cases in 1978 from Niigata and Fukui prefectures, were repatriated to Japan on Oct. 15, 2002.

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Jenkins speaks about abductions by N. Korea

BANKGKOK, Thailand - Charles Jenkins, a former U.S. army sergeant who deserted from the army to North Korea and stayed there for almost 40 years until 2004, speaks about the N. Korean abduction issue while showing a photo of his family at an international conference on North Korea's human rights situation in Bangkok on Sept. 18. Jenkins now lives in Japan with his Japanese wife Hitomi Soga who was also abducted by N. Korean agents.

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Police obtain arrest warrant for N. Korean woman for abducting Soga

NIIGATA, Japan - Japanese police obtained an arrest warrant on Nov. 2 for Kim Myong Suk (in portrait released by police) a North Korean woman believed to be in her 70s or 80s, on suspicion of her involvement in the 1978 abduction of Hitomi Soga from Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture to North Korea. The police said they will ask North Korea, via Japan's foreign ministry, to hand her over.

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N. Korea made Soga teach Japanese to Army officers: Jenkins

SADO, Japan - U.S. Army deserter Charles Jenkins, who spent nearly four decades in North Korea and now lives in Japan,speaks during an interview with Kyodo News at a hotel in Sato, Niigata Prefecture, on Feb. 15. He said his wife Hitomi Soga, a repatriated Japanese abductee, was made to teach Japanese to young North Korean Army officers and others on three occasions between 1981 and 1982.

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Soga talks to Thai abductee's kin

TOKYO, Japan - Repatriated Japanese abductee Hitomi Soga (R) and her American husband Charles Jenkins (2nd from L) hold a news conference in Tokyo on Dec. 22 together with family members of a Thai woman, who is also believed to have been abducted to North Korea after their meeting.

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Jenkins attending driving school to get license

TOKYO, Japan - Charles Jenkins (L), the 65-year-old husband of repatriated Japanese abductee Hitomi Soga, practices driving at a driving school in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward on Oct. 19. Jenkins, a former U.S. Army deserter to North Korea, is learning Japanese road signs by using English learning materials. He said he would like to go fishing in his wife's hometown Sado, Niigata, if he obtains a license. (Pool photo)

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Jenkins hopes his book helps settle abduction cases

TOKYO, Japan - Charles Jenkins, a former U.S. army deserter to North Korea, poses for photos with his memoir in hands at a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 112 ''I hope that this book will help the abduction issue in a small way,'' said Jenkins, the 65-year-old husband of repatriated Japanese abductee Hitomi Soga.

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Jenkins hopes his book helps settle abduction cases

TOKYO, Japan - Charles Jenkins, a former U.S. army deserter to North Korea, poses with his book in hands at a press conference in Tokyo on Oct. 12. Jenkins, the 65-year-old husband of repatriated Japanese abductee Hitomi Soga, voiced hope that his book will contribute to settling the long-standing North Korean abduction issue.

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Soga speaks ahead of anniversary of her return from N. Korea

SADO, Japan - Hitomi Soga, a repatriated Japanese victim of North Korean abduction, speaks at a news conference in Sado, Niigata Prefecture, July 15 ahead of the anniversary of her return to Japan on July 18, 2004, with her husband and two daughters.

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Jenkins, Soga

RICHMOND, United States - Charles Jenkins (R), a former U.S. Army deserter who spent decades in North Korea, and his Japanese wife Hitomi Soga (far L), depart from Richmond airport for Japan on June 21. Jenkins stayed at his sister's home in Weldon, North Carolina, for a week for his first reunion with his 91-year-old mother in more than 40 years.

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Jenkins, Soga return to Japan after weeklong visit to U.S.

NARITA, Japan - Charles Jenkins, a former U.S. Army deserter who spent decades in North Korea, his Japanese wife Hitomi Soga (R), a repatriated victim of Pyongyang's abductions of Japanese nationals, and their family arrive at Narita airport, east of Tokyo, on June 22 after a weeklong visit to the United States. ''I had a great trip,'' Jenkins told reporters at the airport. ''We had a wonderful time, and I'm very happy to be back in Japan. I got homesick for Japan.''

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Jenkins and Soga meet press

WELDON, United States - Charles Jenkins (L), a U.S. Army deserter who spent decades in North Korea, and his wife, Hitomi Soga, a repatriated Japanese who had been abducted by North Korea, meet the press in Weldon, North Carolina, on June 20. The couple, along with their North Korean-born daughters Mika and Brinda, came to the United States on June 14 for Jenkins' first reunion in more than 40 years with his 91-year-old mother.

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Jenkins shops with mother, family

WELDON, United States - Charles Jenkins (R), a 65-year-old former U.S. Army sergeant who spent decades in North Korea as a deserter, spends time shopping with his mother, Pattie Casper (R, front), his wife Hitomi Soga (L) and their daughters in Weldon, North Carolina, on June 16. Jenkins and his family members are visiting Weldon to meet Jenkins' relatives.

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(3)Jenkins happy to be home after 40-year absence

WELDON, United States - Charles Jenkins (2nd from R), a 65-year-old former U.S. Army sergeant who spent decades in North Korea as a deserter, poses for photos with his mother Pattie Casper (C), his Japanese wife Hitomi Soga (2nd from L), their daughters Brinda (far L) and Mika (far R) following his reunion with his 91-year-old mother in Weldon, North Carolina, on June 14.

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(2)Jenkins happy to be home after 40-year absence

WELDON, United States - Charles Jenkins (R), a 65-year-old former U.S. Army sergeant who spent decades in North Korea as a deserter, poses with his mother Pattie Casper (C) and her Japanese wife Hitomi Soga (L) in Weldon, North Carolina, on June 14. ''I feel very happy,'' Jenkins told reporters as he smiled and held his 91-year-old mother.

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Jenkins family leaves for U.S.

NARITA, Japan - Charles Jenkins (L), a former U.S. Army sergeant, his wife Hitomi Soga and their North Korean-born daughters leave Narita Airport, northeast of Tokyo, on June 14 for the United States to visit Jenkins' mother for the first time in some 40 years.

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Jenkins family to leave for U.S.

SADO, Japan - Charles Jenkins (R), a former U.S. Army sergeant, and his wife Hitomi Soga (2nd from L), a former Japanese abductee repatriated from North Korea, leave Sado, Niigata Prefecture, on June 13 to visit the United States to meet Jenkins' mother for the first time in 40 years. Their two North Korea-born daughters will travel with the couple to North Carolina.

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Soga urges LDP's Abe to seek her missing mother

TOKYO, Japan - Hitomi Soga (L), a former Japanese victim of North Korean abduction, meets governing Liberal Democratic Party Acting Secretary General Shinzo Abe at the party headquarters in Tokyo on May 12. She urged Abe to try to locate her missing mother Miyoshi, believed abducted by North Korea.