A senior official at the US Embassy in Japan on Friday visited the presumed site where Yokota Megumi was abducted by North Korean agents decades ago.

First Secretary Booyeon Lee, who is in charge of North Korean issues, visited Niigata City, on the Sea of Japan coast. Yokota is believed to have been abducted there in November, 1977, while on her way home from junior high school.

Lee followed the route as she was briefed by police and prefectural officials.

She said US officials are in solidarity with the abductees and their families in their suffering and pain. She also said it is truly unfortunate that this issue has been left unresolved for so many years.

Lee added that she hopes to bring awareness to the abduction issue to realize a quick resolution.

The previous day, Lee visited the city of Kashiwazaki in Niigata Prefecture, where a couple was abducted in 1978. The couple -- Hasuike Kaoru and his wife Yukiko -- returned home from North Korea in 2002. Their return came after North Korea admitted to abducting Japanese citizens at a summit meeting between the two countries.