DCM Hyland Visits Niigata Prefecture

March 10-11, 2015

During a visit to Niigata Prefecture, Deputy Chief of Mission Jason Hyland visited the site from which 13-year-old Megumi Yokota is believed to have been abducted by the DPRK in 1977. During a meeting with Niigata Governor Izumida, DCM Hyland expressed the U.S. government's continued interest in and support for Japan's efforts to resolve the abductions issue.

While in Niigata, DCM Hyland also marked the fourth anniversary of the 3.11 disasters with a moment of silence, and he conveyed the U.S. government's support for ongoing recovery efforts.

In a March 10 speech to the Niigata Japan-America Society, DCM Hyland emphasized the depth and breadth of the U.S.-Japan relationship, highlighting the numerous areas in which our two countries are contributing together around the world. DCM Hyland pointed to the past 70 years of strong cooperation between the United States and Japan as a source of great optimism regarding the future of this important relationship.