Tokyo, Oct. 2 (Jiji Press)–The government will continue its full efforts to resolve the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago after a leadership change, Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato said Saturday.

“The administration will change, but there will be no change in the government’s policy of taking action with all its strength without missing any chance to bring all abductees home as soon as possible,” Kato said in an online event hosted by the city government of Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, near Tokyo.

New Liberal Democratic Party President Fumio Kishida plans to launch a new cabinet after he was elected as prime minister at an extraordinary parliamentary session to be convened Monday.

The online event was held ahead of the 57th birthday of Megumi Yokota, one of the abductees, on Tuesday to raise public awareness of the abduction issue. Her family lives in Kawasaki.

“We couldn’t realize the return home of abductees or pave the way for their return (while in office),” Kato told reporters in Tokyo after the event. “It’s really regrettable.”

Kato serves also as minister in charge of the abduction issue.