Statement by Mr. ONO Sho, Minister in charge of Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs, Permanent Mission of Japan to the United Nations, on the adoption of the draft resolution on the “Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea” at the Third Committee of the General Assembly
2023/11/15
(as delivered)
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Japan welcomes the adoption of the draft resolution on the “Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”, as one of the co-sponsors. We would like to express our deep appreciation to the delegation of the European Union for its great efforts in bringing us this far.
Mr. Chair,
Japan is deeply concerned about the human rights situation in North Korea. Among them, the abductions issue is one of the most serious violations of human rights committed by North Korea, putting national sovereignty and the lives and safety of our people in danger. As is widely known in the international community, many Japanese citizens were forcibly abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and ’80s.
In this regard, Japan welcomes the references to the abductions issue in this year’s reports on the situation of human rights in North Korea by Special Rapporteur Dr. Elisabeth Salmon and the Secretary-General.
Mr. Chair,
My delegation would like to emphasize that the victims of abduction and their families have been continuously suffering tremendously for many years. Many families have passed away in the midst of this suffering, and there are only a limited number of those surviving, particularly among the parents' generation. Ms. Yokota Sakie, mother of Ms. Yokota Megumi, who was abducted by North Korean agents in Niigata 46 years ago today, November 15th, is now 87 years old, and Mr. Arimoto Akihiro, father of Ms. Arimoto Keiko, who was also abducted by North Korea, is 95 years old. There is no time to waste.
We continue to strongly urge North Korea to take seriously the views of the international community as expressed in this resolution just adopted, listen sincerely to the voices of the victims who have been confined in North Korea as well as their families who have been waiting many years for their return, and to take concrete and positive actions to resolve the abductions issue immediately, including the prompt return of all abductees.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Japan welcomes the adoption of the draft resolution on the “Situation of Human Rights in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea”, as one of the co-sponsors. We would like to express our deep appreciation to the delegation of the European Union for its great efforts in bringing us this far.
Mr. Chair,
Japan is deeply concerned about the human rights situation in North Korea. Among them, the abductions issue is one of the most serious violations of human rights committed by North Korea, putting national sovereignty and the lives and safety of our people in danger. As is widely known in the international community, many Japanese citizens were forcibly abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and ’80s.
In this regard, Japan welcomes the references to the abductions issue in this year’s reports on the situation of human rights in North Korea by Special Rapporteur Dr. Elisabeth Salmon and the Secretary-General.
Mr. Chair,
My delegation would like to emphasize that the victims of abduction and their families have been continuously suffering tremendously for many years. Many families have passed away in the midst of this suffering, and there are only a limited number of those surviving, particularly among the parents' generation. Ms. Yokota Sakie, mother of Ms. Yokota Megumi, who was abducted by North Korean agents in Niigata 46 years ago today, November 15th, is now 87 years old, and Mr. Arimoto Akihiro, father of Ms. Arimoto Keiko, who was also abducted by North Korea, is 95 years old. There is no time to waste.
We continue to strongly urge North Korea to take seriously the views of the international community as expressed in this resolution just adopted, listen sincerely to the voices of the victims who have been confined in North Korea as well as their families who have been waiting many years for their return, and to take concrete and positive actions to resolve the abductions issue immediately, including the prompt return of all abductees.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.