Some of the victims were abducted to teach Japanese language and culture at North Korean spy schools . Older victims were also abducted for the purpose of obtaining their identities . It is speculated that Japanese women were abducted to have them become wives to a group of North Korea-based Japanese terrorists belonging to the " Yodo-go " terrorist group after a 1970 Japan Airlines hijacking and that some may have been abducted because they happened to witness activities of North Korean agents in Japan , which may explain Yokota 's abduction at such a young age
1970 Japan Airlines hijacking
Japan Airlines Flight 351
North Korean abductions of Japanese citizens