The 89-year-old mother of a Japanese woman abducted by North Korea has renewed her call for the earliest possible return home of all the abductees, in light of the recent death of the even older father of another abductee.



Yokota Sakie spoke at a rally of supporters in Tokyo on Thursday. Her daughter, Megumi, was snatched by North Korean agents in 1977 at the age of 13 while on her way home from junior high school.



Participants of the gathering observed a moment of silence in memory of Arimoto Akihiro. He died last Saturday at the age of 96 without ever being reunited with his daughter Keiko, who was abducted in 1983.



Yokota Sakie is now the only surviving parent of 12 Japanese abductees who have been recognized by their government but who remain unaccounted for.



She said that when she talked about Arimoto's death with government officials in charge of the abduction issue, she couldn't help but ask them, "What on earth have you been doing for such a long time?"



Yokota said she now faces a situation in which she really has no choice but to scream.



Yokota went on to say that she really wants the abduction victims to somehow be found in good health. She said she believes the day will come when all those involved will be filled with joy.



She said she will continue to do her best, and renewed her call for an early rescue of all abductees.



Japan's government has so far recognized 17 citizens as having been abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 80s. Five returned home following a bilateral summit in 2002, but the other 12 are unaccounted for.