Tokyo Governor Ishihara heads assembly of governors calling for the return of abductees

Governor of Tokyo, Shintaro Ishihara, and 5 other governors of Gunma, Saitama, Niigata, and Tottori spoke at a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo on Tuesday, January 15, 2009.

Over 40 governors in Japan formed the "Assembled Governors for the Return of Victims of Abduction by North Korea" in November, 2008. The governors are calling for greater pressure to be put on North Korea to see the return of the kidnapped Japanese nationals from the despotic state.

We welcome the governors' initiative and support.

Below is the governors' statement at the press conference and the outline of the letter addressed to Mr. Obama, president-elect of the United States.

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Statement to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea

On the Abduction of Japanese Citizens

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea had admitted to the abduction of Japanese citizens; nevertheless, the DPRK has failed to demonstrate sincerity in further investigations. The DPRK must once again clearly recognize that it has committed an act of crime that is impermissible on humanitarian grounds.

The precious time taken away from the victims as well as the family bonds that were disrupted by the unwarranted acts of abduction can never be returned, and nothing can be done to expiate this. The fundamental premise of atonement for this crime is none other than the earliest possible realization of the return of all the abductees, which is also the strong desire of the now aging families of the victims. The DPRK must promptly take the initial steps to resolve this abduction issue.

Firmly determined to realize the return of our fellow citizens, we, the members of the Assembled Governors for the Return of Victims of Abduction by North Korea, will strictly implement all possible sanctions and other measures and demand the DPRK to:

  1. Promptly conduct a reinvestigation as agreed to at the Japan-North Korea Working-Level Consultations;
  2. Ensure the safety of all abductees and return them to Japan immediately;
  3. Inquire into the abduction issue and provide a full account of the facts to the world, and to extradite the suspects concerned to Japan.

January 13, 2009

Shintaro Ishihara

Chairman, Assembled Governors for the Return of Victims of Abduction by North Korea

Governor of Tokyo

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Outline of the Letter to Barack Obama

President-Elect of the United States of America


  1. We believe that the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea is an extremely grave matter that violates the victims’ human rights as well as Japan’s sovereignty.
  2. We are seriously concerned with the present stalemate that prevents any progress toward resolution, including North Korea’s failure to conduct a reinvestigation based on the agreement of Japan-North Korea Working-Level Consultations.
  3. We deeply regret that the current Bush Administration has rescinded the designation of North Korea as a State Sponsor of Terrorism.
  4. We have assembled committed, like-minded prefectural governors of Japan to form the Assembled Governors for the Return of Victims of Abduction by North Korea in order to appeal for the prompt resolution of the abduction issue.
  5. We ask that the United States understand Japan’s consistent “dialogue and pressure” approach toward North Korea and work together with Japan in calling for North Korea to take sincere and prompt action on this matter.

January 13, 2009

Shintaro Ishihara

Chairman, Assembled Governors for the Return of Victims of Abduction by North Korea

Governor of Tokyo


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