[Kyodo: Korea] Relatives of Japanese victims of North Korean abductions expressed their gratitude and expectations on Wednesday after U.S. media reported former U.S. President Bill Clinton had urged North Korea to release Japanese abductees as well during his trip to Pyongyang that resulted in the release of two U.S. journalists who had been detained by the reclusive state. ""I"m surprised that he (the former president) remembers that,"" said Sakie Yokota, 73, whose daughter Megumi was taken to the country in 1977 at age 13. ""The abduction issue has been at a standstill so I hope it (the government) will continue negotiating (their release) at any cost.""