The mother of a North Korean kidnapee hopes for progress with Trump’s return.

“I hope that Donald Trump’s return to the presidency will lead to progress in securing the release of abductees,” said Sakie Yokota, 88, mother of Megumi Yokota, a Japanese national kidnapped by North Korea. She expressed her profound worry that she might never see her daughter again in a statement released on January 21, 2025, after Trump was sworn in. She also urged Trump to use his prior relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to push for the return of abductees.

These views were echoed by Takuya Yokota, Sakie’s son and leader of a group that represents families of abductees, who urged the Japanese government to work closely with the United States to exert pressure on North Korea. He underlined that in order to resolve this persistent problem, Japan and the United States must have a solid partnership.

Trump had met with families of abductees during his previous term, telling them that their loved ones were “very much on my mind” and that he would try to bring them back. Because of this history, families like the Yokotas are hopeful that Trump’s reelection as president could spark new diplomatic initiatives to address the abduction problem.