Japan-North Korea Relations
Abduction Victims Identified by the Government of Japan
The following is an outline of the cases related to the 17 abductees identified by the Government of Japan (GoJ) (information in brackets shows the age when abduction took place and the location where the abductee went missing).
With the recognition that there are other cases where the possibility of an abduction by North Korea cannot be ruled out, the GoJ remains fully committed to demand North Korea take action to assure the safety of all abductees and their immediate return to Japan, regardless of whether they are officially identified as victims of abduction by North Korea or not.
: North Korea claims the death of the abductees.
: North Korea denies the abductees entered its territory.
: Returned to Japan.
September 19, 1977
Ushitsu Case
Mr. KUME Yutaka (52, Ishikawa Prefecture)
Disappeared off the coast of Ushitsu, Ishikawa Prefecture. His whereabouts are unconfirmed. (North Korea denies he entered its territory.)
October 21, 1977
Suspected Abduction Case Involving a Woman
Ms. MATSUMOTO Kyoko (29, Tottori Prefecture)
Disappeared on her way to a knitting school close to her home. Her whereabouts are unconfirmed. (North Korea denies she entered its territory.)
November 15, 1977
Suspected Abduction Case Involving a Girl
Ms. YOKOTA Megumi (13, Niigata Prefecture)
Disappeared on her way home from school in Niigata city. Her whereabouts are unconfirmed. (North Korea claims she committed suicide.)
In or around June 1978
Suspected Abduction Case Involving a Former Restaurant Worker
Mr. TANAKA Minoru (28, Hyogo Prefecture)
Disappeared after departing Japan for Europe. His whereabouts are unconfirmed. (North Korea denies he entered its territory.)
In or around June 1978
Suspected Abduction Case of Lee Un-
Hae
Ms. TAGUCHI Yaeko (22, unknown)
Her whereabouts are unconfirmed. (North Korea claims she died in a traffic accident.)
July 7, 1978
Suspected Abduction Case Involving a Couple
Mr. CHIMURA Yasushi (23, Fukui Prefecture)
Ms. CHIMURA Fukie (Maiden name HAMAMOTO) (23, Fukui Prefecture)
Disappeared after going out stating that they were going on a date. The couple returned to Japan in October 2002.
July 31, 1978
Suspected Abduction Case Involving a Couple
Mr. HASUIKE Kaoru (20, Niigata Prefecture)
Ms. HASUIKE Yukiko (Maiden name OKUDO) (22, Niigata Prefecture)
Mr. HASUIKE Kaoru disappeared after he went out stating that he was going out and would soon be back. Similarly, Ms. OKUDO Yukiko disappeared after going out. The couple returned to Japan in October 2002.
August 12, 1978
Suspected Abduction Case Involving a Couple
Mr. ICHIKAWA Shuichi (23, Kagoshima Prefecture)
Ms. MASUMOTO Rumiko (24, Kagoshima Prefecture)
Disappeared after going out, stating that they were going to see the sunset on the beach. Their whereabouts are unconfirmed. (North Korea claims that each of the couple died of a heart attack while swimming in the ocean.)
August 12, 1978
Suspected Abduction Case Involving a Mother and a Daughter
Ms. SOGA Hitomi (19, Niigata Prefecture)
Ms. SOGA Miyoshi (46, Niigata Prefecture)
Disappeared after going out, stating that they were going shopping. Ms. SOGA Hitomi returned to Japan in October 2002. Ms. Miyoshi’s whereabouts are unconfirmed. (North Korea denies she entered its territory.)
In or around May 1980
Suspected Abduction Case Involving Japanese Males in Europe
Mr. ISHIOKA Toru (22, Europe)
Mr. MATSUKI Kaoru (26, Europe)
Both disappeared during their stay in Europe. Their whereabouts are unconfirmed. (North Korea claims that Mr. ISHIOKA has died in a gas accident and that Mr. MATSUKI died in a traffic accident.)
Mid-June 1980
Sin Kwang-Su Case
Mr. HARA Tadaaki (43, Miyazaki Prefecture)
Disappeared in Miyazaki Prefecture. His whereabouts are unconfirmed. (North Korea claims he died of cirrhosis of the liver.)
In or around July 1983
Suspected Abduction Case Involving a Japanese Woman in Europe
Ms. ARIMOTO Keiko (23, Europe)
Disappeared in Europe. Her whereabouts are unconfirmed. (North Korea claims that she died in a gas accident.)
Locations where abductees disappeared.
873 Other Cases of Missing Persons in Which the Possibility of Abduction by North Korea Cannot be Ruled Out
In addition to the 17 Japanese citizens already identified as having been abducted by North Korea, the possibility of abduction by North Korea cannot be ruled out for 873 other missing persons (as of October 2021). The GoJ has been conducting information gathering and investigation activities both in Japan and overseas.
Korean Domicile Victims Abducted in Japan (Suspected Abduction Case Involving a Brother and a Sister)
The police have concluded that the case of disappearances in mid-June 1974 of young siblings, Ko Kyon-Mi and Ko Kang, Korean domiciles, is a suspected abduction case committed by North Korea.
The GoJ views all abductions as serious human rights violations regardless of nationality as well as violations of the sovereignty of Japan. Accordingly, the GoJ urges North Korea to return the abductees to Japan as a return to their original state and also urges that North Korea obtain a full account of what happened to all abductees.
The GoJ has been making concerted efforts to urge North Korea to return all the abductees, regardless of whether they are officially identified as such, back to Japan immediately.