Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, for over 70 years, the United States and Japan have been bound together by a steadfast and loyal alliance. Our nations have come together in decades of peace and cooperation. Today, however, our Japanese allies are facing mounting threats. China is ramping up its expansionist efforts, and the tyrannical regime of North Korea continues to develop its arsenal of nuclear weapons and intermediate-range ballistic missiles, which pose a direct threat to the civilian population of Japan. In this increasingly unstable and bellicose environment, it has never been more important for the United States to stand strong in support of Japan. North Korea, in particular, is guilty of grave human rights abuses against Japanese citizens. Since the 1970s, North Korea has covertly abducted 17 Japanese citizens from the homeland islands, some while they slept in their beds. In addition to these 17 officially recognized abductees, there are numerous other cases of missing Japanese citizens for whom the possibility of having been abducted and taken to North Korea simply can't be ruled out. The agony of not knowing haunts these families, and the fear of abductions in the night from the sea has haunted coastal communities in Japan for decades. Every single one of these abductions is a horrific tragedy that has caused untold suffering. Perhaps even more disturbing is North Korea's heartless and transparent deception concerning the status of these victims.…”