South seeks POWs, abductees in North

"We feel it is the inherent duty of the government to work for the repatriation of prisoners of war and those abducted by the North, and we have continued to make contact with the North," Minister of Unification Park Jae-Kyu said August 23.

Park revealed that on Wednesday he met with Representatives Kang Sam-Jae, Shin Yung-Kook and Yoon Doo-Whan of the Prisoners of War and Abductees Task Force. They are members of the opposition Grand National Party.

"The September 2 repatriation of non-realigned prisoners is expected to have favorable influence on the repatriation of prisoners of war and those abducted,¡± Park said. "We shall look into the reorganization of the ministry to establish an agency to spearhead the issue of prisoners of war."

Park also responded to a request by the opposition GNP`s representatives to link the repatriation of non-aligned prisoners in the South with the repatriation of prisoners and those abducted by the North.

"At the second inter-Korean ministerial talks, to be held on August 29 in Pyongyang, the issue of repatriation will be discussed, along with the separated families issue, and all efforts will be made to find a solution.¡±