The Kono Statement was not approved by Cabinet. The Abe Government adopted a cabinet resolution that there is no evidence to support it [that abduction was carried out by government authorities].
It all started with the Asahi Shimbun’s false reports. They spread the position put forward in books written by a man called Seiji Yoshida, a sort of con artist, throughout Japan, and compounded the problem. In this context, it was decided at cabinet level that there is no evidence to prove there was kidnapping.
The problem is how to deal with the situation in which this is not widely known either within Japan or overseas. Unfortunately, however, regardless of the facts of the matter, depending on how it is handled, this would become a diplomatic issue. In this respect, I would like the press to handle the matter carefully.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX8NlXfQ12M