Case 346: Megumi Yokota

Jul 11, 2026 · 1h 22m

Summary

This episode details the 1977 disappearance of 13-year-old Megumi Yokota in Japan and her parents' decades-long search for answers. It connects her case to North Korean abductions, highlighted by the 1987 bombing of Korean Air Flight 858 and subsequent defector testimonies. The narrative follows the Yokotas as they uncover evidence that Megumi was kidnapped by North Korean agents, culminating in 1997 when intelligence confirmed she was alive in North Korea.

Topics discussed

Intro and sponsor reads Megumi Yokota's disappearance in 1978 The ransom call and failed negotiations Pattern of abductions and the Shimao Beach incident Sponsor reads Korean Air Flight 858 bombing and North Korean spies North Korea's history of abducting Japanese citizens Shigeru Yokota's advocacy and defector testimony Sponsor reads 2002 Summit and North Korea's admission of abductions Return of survivors and controversy over fake remains Megumi's legacy, granddaughter meeting, and conclusion

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