Relatives of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea are calling on the Japanese government to hold another bilateral summit at an early date to resolve the issue.

They made the appeal at a rally in Tokyo on Sunday. North Korea acknowledged the abductions for the first time at a summit with Japan in September 2002.

Five abductees returned to Japan in that year, but the others, including 12 who are recognized by the Japanese government, remain unaccounted for.

Fifty-four-year-old Yokota Takuya is the leader of the relatives' group. His older sister, Megumi, was abducted 45 years ago when she was 13.

He said there is no time left, as the abductees' parents are passing away without seeing their children.

Yokota called on Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to keep reminding North Korean leader Kim Jong Un about the importance of resolving the issue, and make another summit happen soon.

Megumi's 86-year-old mother, Sakie, said she feels sad because she constantly wonders how her daughter is doing in North Korea.

She said she worked hard with her husband to try to save their daughter, but he was drawn up to heaven after using up all his energy.

Sakie said she wants to save all the remaining abductees as soon as possible so they can return to their country.