{
  "id": 9503222,
  "title": "Japanese families ask Trump to raise abduction issue in possible talks with Kim",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/24/japanese-families-ask-trump-to-raise-abduction-issue-in-possible",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-24T06:29:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/09/24/japan/japan-families-north-korea-abduction-victims-trump-kim-talks/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea are urging the U.S. administration, led by President Donald Trump, to address the abduction issue if a summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un takes place. The Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea and a group of Japanese lawmakers met with senior National Security Council official Ivan Kanapathy and others in Washington. Takuya Yokota, the head of the families' association and Megumi Yokota's younger brother - who was abducted at age 13 in 1977 - called for the prompt and simultaneous return of all abductees. He showed U.S. officials photographs of his sister and implored them to grasp the impact of the abductions on ordinary lives. The U.S. administration pledged to support a swift resolution to the issue. During their visit, Yokota and other family members also met with former U.S. Ambassador to Japan Bill Hagerty and senior State Department officials.",
  "summary": "U.S. officials said they would continue to support the immediate resolution of the issue of North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens.",
  "key_points": [
    "Japanese families urge U.S. to raise abduction issue in potential Trump-Kim talks",
    "Association of Families and lawmakers meet with National Security Council official Ivan Kanapathy",
    "Takuya Yokota's abducted sister Megumi calls for prompt and simultaneous return of all abductees"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The development puts pressure on the US administration to make abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea a priority issue in potential talks with Pyongyang.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}