The representative of the UN Human Rights Office in Seoul expressed sadness on Monday at the death of Arimoto Akihiro, the father of one of the Japanese abducted by North Korea decades ago.

In a statement, James Heenan said he is "deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Arimoto Akihiro, who fought until his last moment not only for his daughter, Keiko, but for all the abductees and their human rights and justice."

Heenan called the abduction issue a priority for his team, and said they will continue to engage with governments for its resolution.

Heenan called on North Korea "to take immediate concrete steps to resolve these cases and those of the thousands of other disappeared persons" from Japan, North and South Korea and many other countries.

Heenan met with relatives of Japanese abductees in Tokyo in 2023.