Japan families of N. Korea abductees meet Trump, seek help
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Shigeo Iizuka, whose sister was abducted by North Korean agents 39 years ago, thanked US President Donald Trump on Monday for meeting with him and the relatives of other abductees, and expressed hope it will lead to a breakthrough in obtaining their freedom. Iizuka, 79, and relatives of seven other abductees met with the visiting US president and sought his help in bringing their loved ones home.
Japan says North Korea snatched at least 17 people in the 1970s and '80s to train its spies in Japanese culture and language so they could pass as Japanese and spy on South Korea. North Korea has acknowledged abducting 13 of them and allowed five to visit Japan. All five stayed instead of returning to North Korea. The North says the other eight have died, without providing convincing proof.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made the return off all of the abductees a top policy goal. There has been no sign of progress as tensions have grown because of North Korea's missile and nuclear programs.
