Abductees' kin to press case with Security Council

A group supporting the families of Japanese abducted by North Korea have decided to send a delegation to the U.N. Security Council to get help in having the abductees repatriated.

A meeting of key officials of the group in Tokyo on Saturday also decided to work toward building public opinion for tougher sanctions against North Korea as a way to resolve the abduction issue.

Numerous attendees, including Shigeru Yokota, whose daughter Megumi was abducted in 1977 at age 13, voiced hope the issue will make headway under the new administration after Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi steps down.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe, seen as way out in front in the race to succeed Koizumi, has been a vocal supporter of the abductees' families.

"If Mr. Abe sits at the top of the national administration, there will be major progress toward a resolution of the (abduction) problem," Yokota said. "I think he will make even more efforts than before."