03
May 2019
Past Event
Seminar on the North Korean Abductions Issue

Seminar on the North Korean Abductions Issue

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
May 03, 2019
03
May 2019
Past Event

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004

Speakers:
Nick Eberstadt

Henry Wendt Chair in Political Economy, AEI

Keiji Furuya

Chairman, Committee of Congressional Members to Act for the Early Rescue of Japanese Victims Abducted by North Korea

Koichiro Iizuka

Vice Secretary-General, Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea

Hwang Incheol

Leader, Association for Family Members of the 1969 KAL Kidnapping Victims

melanie_kirkpatrick
Melanie Kirkpatrick

Senior Fellow

Akira Sato

State Minister of Cabinet Office, the Government of Japan

Greg Scarlatoiu

Executive Director, Committee for Human Rights in North Korea

Michael Sneddon

Brother of David Sneddon who was abducted by North Korea in 2004

Cindy Warmbier

Mother of Otto Warmbier who was tortured & imprisoned in North Korea

Ken Weinstein

President and CEO, Hudson Institute

Takuya Yokota

Secretary-General, Association of Families of Victims Kidnapped by North Korea

lewis-libby
Lewis Libby

Former Senior Vice President

For a version of this event with full English translation, view its airing on CSPAN

Hudson Institute, the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK), and the Government of Japan hosted a seminar addressing the abduction of Japanese, South Korean, American and nationals of other countries by North Korea. This two-part seminar featured families of abductees who discussed the process of seeking to learn the fate of loved ones held in North Korea. The seminar also explored international cooperation toward the comprehensive resolution of outstanding issues of concern such as abductions, nuclear, and missile issues.

For part one, speakers from Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States, including abductee family members, talked about their agony. For part two, Japanese and U.S. officials gave remarks regarding their work on the abductions issue and included a question and answer session with the audience.

Related Events
06
May 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
A Conversation with Former METI Minister Nishimura on Prime Minister Takaichi's Policy Outlook and Solutions
Featured Speakers:
Yasutoshi Nishimura
Kenneth R. Weinstein
Getty Images
06
May 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
A Conversation with Former METI Minister Nishimura on Prime Minister Takaichi's Policy Outlook and Solutions

On May 6, Hudson Japan Chair Kenneth R. Weinstein will welcome Yasutoshi Nishimura, former head of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to Hudson. 

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Yasutoshi Nishimura
Kenneth R. Weinstein
11
May 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China
Featured Speakers:
Eyck Freymann
Jason Hsu
Getty Images
11
May 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
Defending Taiwan: A Strategy to Prevent War with China

With Jason Hsu, Freymann will discuss how the United States and its partners can adapt to China’s evolving strategy and develop a coherent plan to prevent conflict while safeguarding Taiwan’s future.

Getty Images
Featured Speakers:
Eyck Freymann
Jason Hsu
12
May 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
China’s Persecution: Assault on All Faiths
Featured Speakers:
Sam Brownback
Hon. Frank Wolf
Michael Arkush
Mihrigul Tursun
Arjia Rinpoche
Frances Hui
Wang Chunyan
Pastor Pan Yongguang
Peter Xu
Enes Freedom
Pastor Corey Jackson
Grace Jin Drexel
Moderator:
Nina Shea
This picture taken on July 19, 2023 shows a view of a watchtower of an alleged detention facility in Artux in Kizilsu Prefecture in China's northwestern Xinjiang region. Since 2017, more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslims have been swept into internment camps where human rights abuses are commonplace, researchers, campaigners and members of the diaspora say. Beijing says the facilities were voluntary centres for teaching vocational skills, closed years ago after their inhabitants "graduated" into stab
12
May 2026
In-Person Event | Hudson Institute
China’s Persecution: Assault on All Faiths

To address these concerns, former senator Sam Brownback, who served as ambassador at large for international religious freedom in the first Trump administration, will join Senior Fellow Nina Shea to propose new policies for the US government and actions for the American public. 

This picture taken on July 19, 2023 shows a view of a watchtower of an alleged detention facility in Artux in Kizilsu Prefecture in China's northwestern Xinjiang region. Since 2017, more than a million Uyghurs and other Muslims have been swept into internment camps where human rights abuses are commonplace, researchers, campaigners and members of the diaspora say. Beijing says the facilities were voluntary centres for teaching vocational skills, closed years ago after their inhabitants "graduated" into stab
Featured Speakers:
Sam Brownback
Hon. Frank Wolf
Michael Arkush
Mihrigul Tursun
Arjia Rinpoche
Frances Hui
Wang Chunyan
Pastor Pan Yongguang
Peter Xu
Enes Freedom
Pastor Corey Jackson
Grace Jin Drexel
Moderator:
Nina Shea
01
May 2026
Past Event
The Triumph of Economic Freedom: A Conversation with Phil Gramm
Featured Speaker:
Senator Phil Gramm
Moderator:
John P. Walters
1 US Dollar coin with Statue of Liberty design close-up macro
01
May 2026
Past Event
The Triumph of Economic Freedom: A Conversation with Phil Gramm

Senator Gramm will discuss the book’s findings, how economic freedom drives human flourishing, and why conventional wisdom about capitalism deserves a second look.

1 US Dollar coin with Statue of Liberty design close-up macro
Featured Speaker:
Senator Phil Gramm
Moderator:
John P. Walters