90-Year-Old Mother Marks 62nd Birthday of Megumi Yokota, Still Waiting for North Korea to Return Her

Sakie Yokota, now 90, marked the 62nd birthday of her daughter Megumi on [current date], more than four decades after Megumi was abducted by North Korean agents in 1977 at the age of 13. Speaking from Japan, Yokota voiced deep frustration that she still knows nothing of her daughter's fate despite years of appeals and diplomatic efforts, but she reiterated her unwavering belief that Megumi will one day come home.

Megumi Yokota's abduction is one of the most prominent cases among the dozens of Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. North Korea admitted in 2002 to abducting 13 Japanese nationals, claiming eight had died and five had returned to Japan, but Tokyo has demanded more information and believes the number of abductees is higher. Yokota has campaigned tirelessly for her daughter's return, meeting with world leaders and raising international awareness. In a statement, she said, "I will never give up hope. I want to see Megumi again before I die."

The ongoing plight of the Yokota family highlights the unresolved humanitarian issue between Japan and North Korea, which has stalled diplomatic normalization talks. The Japanese government continues to press Pyongyang for a full accounting of all abductees, while international human rights groups call for greater pressure on North Korea. As Sakie Yokota ages, the urgency to resolve this case grows, with no clear path forward and North Korea showing little willingness to engage.