Seoul hopes to bring back 6 S. Korean detainees through inter-Korean talks
- 6 years ago
With the release and return of detained Americans by the reclusive regime, attention here in the nation shifts to South Koreans held prisoners up North.
Is there a possibility of Pyongyang building on this peaceful momentum to release them as well?
Oh Jung-hee sheds light on who they are... and what the government plans to do to ensure their freedom.
Now that the three U.S. citizens, who had been detained in North Korea, are back home, focus in Seoul is now on its own citizens who are still behind bars in the North.
There are six South Koreans held in the North -- three missionaries... and three people who escaped from the regime but were taken back.
Arirang News had an opportunity to meet with Kim Jung-sam,... the elder brother of Kim Jung-wook, one of the three missionaries.
Kim Jung-wook provided food and accommodation for North Korean citizens... and taught Christian principles in Dandong, a city on China's border with North Korea.
But he was caught by the regime in 2013... for what the North called 'anti-state crimes'.
Kim's family in South Korea found out through media reports that Kim was detained... but since then, they haven't heard anything about him.
"There has been no response from North Korea, even when the South Korean government has raised the issue,... or when I sent a letter through the International Committee of the Red Cross. I don't know if he's alive or dead."
He hopes that a string of inter-Korean talks following the summit last month could lead to a change in his brother's situation.
The Seoul government says it's pouring efforts to bring back South Korean detainees.
The presidential office of Chung Wa Dae told reporters... the government's measures or policies might not be visible all the time, but everything is being done to bring them back to Seoul.
While the first round of inter-Korean high-level talks after the summit are expected to be held next week,... Seoul's unification ministry says... it will continue to work on humanitarian issues through coming opportunities.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.
Is there a possibility of Pyongyang building on this peaceful momentum to release them as well?
Oh Jung-hee sheds light on who they are... and what the government plans to do to ensure their freedom.
Now that the three U.S. citizens, who had been detained in North Korea, are back home, focus in Seoul is now on its own citizens who are still behind bars in the North.
There are six South Koreans held in the North -- three missionaries... and three people who escaped from the regime but were taken back.
Arirang News had an opportunity to meet with Kim Jung-sam,... the elder brother of Kim Jung-wook, one of the three missionaries.
Kim Jung-wook provided food and accommodation for North Korean citizens... and taught Christian principles in Dandong, a city on China's border with North Korea.
But he was caught by the regime in 2013... for what the North called 'anti-state crimes'.
Kim's family in South Korea found out through media reports that Kim was detained... but since then, they haven't heard anything about him.
"There has been no response from North Korea, even when the South Korean government has raised the issue,... or when I sent a letter through the International Committee of the Red Cross. I don't know if he's alive or dead."
He hopes that a string of inter-Korean talks following the summit last month could lead to a change in his brother's situation.
The Seoul government says it's pouring efforts to bring back South Korean detainees.
The presidential office of Chung Wa Dae told reporters... the government's measures or policies might not be visible all the time, but everything is being done to bring them back to Seoul.
While the first round of inter-Korean high-level talks after the summit are expected to be held next week,... Seoul's unification ministry says... it will continue to work on humanitarian issues through coming opportunities.
Oh Jung-hee, Arirang News.