A brother of a Japanese national abducted by North Korean agents 47 years ago called for the abductees' early return at a rally in Tokyo on Saturday.

Yokota Megumi was abducted on November 15, 1977, at the age of 13 on her way home from a junior high school in Niigata City. She turned 60 in October.

Megumi's younger brother Yokota Takuya, who heads an abductees' family group, spoke at a rally focusing on the abduction issue.

Takuya said his parents became disconcerted after his sister disappeared, and a heavy atmosphere overwhelmed the family and there was little conversation.

He said his family can only remember Megumi as a 13-year-old girl, and cannot imagine how she looks now at 60. Takuya said he just hopes that his sister is keeping well.

Referring to last month's Lower House election, in which the ruling coalition failed to secure a majority, he said North Korea is likely trying to figure out whom it would be negotiating with in future talks.

Takuya said Japan's political turmoil and stagnation must not delay addressing the abduction issue, which constitutes a human rights violation that is "putting our family members' lives at stake".

Among the parents of the 12 abductees whom the Japanese government has recognized and who remain unaccounted for, Megumi's mother Yokota Sakie and Arimoto Akihiro, the father of abductee Arimoto Keiko, are the only ones who are still alive.

Sakie is 88 years old, and Akihiro is 96.

Takuya said after the rally that, although the two are well, his mother fell ill and was hospitalized last year, and that their health may deteriorate at any time.

He said he wants the Japanese government to take to heart the pain and anger of the abductees' relatives, and convey it to the North Korean authorities.