NHK World News ---- Relatives of Japanese abducted by North Korea appealed for an early release of their loved ones at a rally held in Niigata on Saturday. About 2000 people attended the rally, which was organized by supporters of the abductees' families. Representing the families, Shigeo Iizuka called for resolving the abduction issue before the end of the year. His sister, Yaeko Taguchi, was abducted in late June 1978. Shigeru Yokota appealed to the participants for continued help in influencing the government to do more for the abductees. His daughter, Megumi, was abducted in 1977 when she was 13. Sakie Yokota, Megumi's mother, referred to Japan-North Korea governmental consultations scheduled for next Wednesday, the first such talks in 4 years. She said she wants the Japanese government to make truly serious efforts at the consultations. Former abductee Hitomi Soga appealed for the release of her mother. Soga and her mother were abducted in 1978. She was one of 5 Japanese who returned to Japan in October 2002, 24 years after being abducted. Their return came one month after Kim Jong Il admitted that some agents of his country had abducted Japanese people. Kim apologized to then Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi during their meeting in Pyongyang. Saturday's rally comes about 3 weeks before the 10th anniversary of that Japan-North Korea summit. Of the 17 Japanese citizens whom the government officially recognizes as being abducted, the fate of 12 is not known <b>...</b>