TOKYO >> The Japanese government has stepped up its efforts to help Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea who are believed to still be in that country, by starting a new radio program as part of Radio Free Asia, which is affiliated with the U.S. government.

This move was prompted by information that RFA has many listeners in North Korea. The Japanese government therefore decided to use it to amplify its messages to the abductees.

In the new radio program, family members of the abductees speak about their feelings about rescuing them. Katsunobu Kato, minister in charge of the abduction issue, also speaks on the program to demonstrate the Japanese government’s firm determination to resolve the issue.

By doing so, the Japanese government aims to increase pressure on North Korea.

Titled “Anata ga Inai Aida ni” (“while you have been away”), the new radio program was jointly produced with RFA, which has a base in Seoul. It airs late every Saturday night for about 15 minutes.

The programs consist of interviews with the abductees’ family members and friends, and the voices are accompanied by translations into the Korean language. One person is featured in each broadcast.

Those participating include Takuya Yokota, 48, a younger brother of Megumi Yokota, who was abducted in Niigata in 1977 at the age of 13.

The abductees’ family members and friends mention changes in Japanese society and events that have happened in their families while the victims have been out of Japan, and tell the abductees about the continuous efforts to rescue them as soon as possible.

The first program aired on April 29. Koichiro Iizuka, 40, talked about his feelings about his mother, Yaeko Taguchi. Taguchi was from Kawaguchi, Saitama Prefecture, and was abducted in 1978 at age 22.

Iizuka also urged a resolution to the problem, saying, “If abduction victims return home, there will be benefits and the lifting of economic sanctions, which will worthy of action [by the North Korean government].”

Naoya Yoshida, a 52-year-old violinist who was Megumi Yokota’s classmate when they were junior high school students, said: “I learned that many people who escaped from North Korea had listened to RFA, so I hope the broadcasts will reach Megumi directly. I hope she’ll come back as soon as possible while her parents are well. I sent out that message.”

Nobuhiro Matsuki, 44, the younger brother of Kaoru Matsuki, spoke about his expectations for the new radio program. Kaoru Matsuki, who was from Kumamoto, was abducted in 1980 at age 26.

Nobuhiro said, “I want the abductees to realize again by listening to the radio program that they are not abandoned and their families are waiting for them in Japan.”

The government’s Headquarters for the Abduction Issue has been airing another shortwave radio program for abduction victims called “Furusato no Kaze” (Winds of home) since 2007.

However, a survey about two years ago among people who escaped from North Korea found that many of them listen to RFA broadcasts, which are aired on medium frequency waves from South Korea. These programs are the second most popular after those of KBS, South Korea’s public broadcaster.

To increase opportunities for Japanese programs to be heard by people in North Korea, the Headquarters for the Abduction Issue asked for cooperation from RFA last year.

RFA willingly consented to the request. An RFA reporter came to Japan in late February and repeatedly met with family members of the abductees and others concerned, before recording the interviews in March.

This year is significant, as it marks the 40th anniversary of the abduction of Megumi Yokota and the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Association of the Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea.

The Japanese government hopes the messages in the radio program will be heard by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, chairman of the Workers’ Party of Korea.

A source in the Japanese government said, “I hope [the new broadcast] will result in the return of the abduction victims as soon as possible.”

Broadcasting station Radio Free Asia is under the control of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), a U.S. government organization. Its budgets are financed by subsidies from the BBG after the provisions have been approved by the U.S. Congress. RFA began broadcasting in 1996 and has communicated information to China, North Korea and other places in East Asia where freedom of the press is limited. RFA is headquartered in Washington.