拉致問題解決へ緊密連携　バイデン米大統領、被害者家族に表明

　バイデン米大統領は２３日、北朝鮮に拉致された横田めぐみさんの母早紀江さんや田口八重子さんの長男飯塚耕一郎さんらと、東京・元赤坂の迎賓館で面会した。バイデン氏は早期解決を目指して日本側と緊密に連携していく考えを示した。
　めぐみさんの弟で拉致被害者家族連絡会（家族会）代表の拓也さんは、再会を果たせず亡くなった父滋さんに言及。「悔しく、無念でならない。この苦しみは全ての被害者家族で同じだ。母とめぐみを日本の地で再会させてあげたい」と述べ、米国の取り組みに期待を示した。
　バイデン氏は「協力する」と表明。家族会の一人一人と握手を交わしたり、早紀江さんを抱擁したりしていたという。（2022/05/23-20:12）

U.S. President Joe Biden pledged to work closely with the Japanese government to achieve an early solution to the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago, during a meeting with family members of the abductees in Tokyo on Monday.
   The meeting took place at the State Guest House and was attended by 11 family members, including Takuya Yokota, 53-year-old head of a group for abductee families and the younger brother of Megumi, who was abducted in 1977 at the age of 13.
   Takuya expressed his frustration and sorrow, explaining to Biden that his father, Shigeru, died without being able to be reunited with his daughter.
   "All family members of the abductees feel the same pain," Takuya said.
   "I want my mother to see Megumi on Japanese soil," he added, pinning hopes that the United States will make efforts to realize such a moment.