石破首相、拉致解決へ決意　被害者家族と初面会

　石破茂首相は１７日午前、北朝鮮による拉致被害者家族と就任後初めて、首相官邸で面会した。首相は「拉致事件は国家主権の侵害だ。最も有効な手だてを講じていきたい」と強調。「首脳同士が大局観を持ってお互いの考えを率直に述べ合うことは極めて重要だ」と述べ、金正恩朝鮮労働党総書記との会談に意欲を示した。
　横田めぐみさん＝拉致当時（１３）＝の弟で家族会代表の拓也さんは、首相の掲げる東京と平壌への連絡事務所設置に反対する考えを伝えた。「拉致問題を時間稼ぎした上で幕引きすることにしか寄与しない」と訴えた。
　面会には、めぐみさんの母の早紀江さんや拉致問題担当相を兼ねる林芳正官房長官らが出席した。（2024/10/17-12:22）

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba met Thursday with the families of citizens abducted decades ago by North Korea, their first meeting since he took office on Oct. 1.
   "The abductions are violations of national sovereignty," Ishiba said in the meeting at the prime minister's office. "We will take the most effective measures."
   He expressed willingness to hold talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to resolve the abductions, saying, "It is extremely important for leaders to frankly express their views to each other with a broad perspective."
   Takuya Yokota, leader of a group of abductee families, expressed opposition to Ishiba's proposal to establish liaison offices in Tokyo and Pyongyang.
   "It will only lead to (the North Korean side) buying time and putting an end to the abductions issue," said Yokota, the younger brother of Megumi, who was abducted at the age of 13 in 1977.