Akihiro Arimoto, whose daughter, Keiko Arimoto, was abducted by North Korea at the age of 23, recently died at 96.

North Korea’s late leader, Kim Jong-il, admitted that the abduction of Japanese citizens was part of a program to train North Korean spies to learn Japanese and infiltrate South Korea during a summit between Japanese Prime Minister, Junichiro Koizumi, and himself in 2002.

Keiko was attending Kobe City University of Foreign Studies and studying in London when she was abducted in July 1983. In 1988, a letter from Toru Ishioka, another abductee, confirmed that Keiko was alive in North Korea.

Akihiro and his wife, Kayoko, have over the years campaigned for Keiko’s return, with the Japanese government officially recognizing Keiko’s abduction in 2002. Even though North Korea claimed that Keiko had died of gas poisoning, Akihiro believed she was still alive.

Despite deteriorating health and the loss of his wife in 2020, Akihiro never stopped advocating for his daughter’s rescue, attending conferences and seeking international support to resolve the abduction issue.

North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, made a rare visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun to mark his father, Kim Jong-il's, birth anniversary.

This was the first time in four years that Kim visited the mausoleum, accompanied by his sister, Kim Yo-jong, and other aides.

During the visit, Kim expressed his commitment to the country’s prosperity, security and well-being.

Kim emphasized the ongoing importance of Kim Jong-il's legacy in North Korea’s current and future endeavors.

The U.S., South Korea and Japan recently reaffirmed their pledge to seek the complete denuclearization of North Korea during a meeting at the Munich Security Conference. The three nations emphasized their commitment to maintaining and strengthening international sanctions against Pyongyang.

The countries agreed to enhance their military cooperation, including expanding three-way military exercises and strengthening Japan and South Korea’s military capabilities.

North Korea’s Foreign Ministry denounced the pledge as an “outdated, absurd” plan and vowed to continue bolstering its nuclear force under the direction of Kim Jong-un.

Pyongyang stated it would take “overwhelming and decisive counteraction” against its rivals if it perceives its security is under threat.

The authorities have been quietly issuing death certificates to family members of those killed fighting in Russia, telling them their loved ones died during “sacred combat training in honor of the motherland.” 

Despite tight control over information, some North Koreans have begun privately raising questions about the fighting in Russia as the number of fatalities increased.

North Korea threatened to charge citizens with treason for spreading rumors about soldiers killed while fighting in Russia. The regime also ordered citizens to report anyone spreading such rumors, with warnings of punishment for those who fail to do so.

Offenders could face up to 10 years in a labor camp or even the death penalty if the offense is considered anti-state propaganda.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s military authorities have used loudspeakers along the demilitarized zone to broadcast news of the capture of North Korean soldiers by Ukrainian forces, amid Pyongyang’s continued official silence regarding its deployment of troops to Russia.