Kidnapped, POWs defined as separated family members

The government said Friday that North Korea is showing an attitude of understanding toward the issue of South Korean prisoners of war (POWs) and South Koreans abducted by the North, indicating progress is being made in the matter.

The government¡¯s joint support team for the second round of exchange visits by separated family members said in a press release that the North had been asked to make efforts to solve the problem of POWs and South Korean citizens kidnapped to the North in the summit meeting, ministerial-level talks and Red Cross conferences.

The North responded negatively at first, but the government¡¯s persistent persuasion has led to the North trying to understand the questions, according to the press release.

The support team stated in the press release that the POWs and kidnapped belong to the comprehensive category of separated families whose motives for separation are not questioned.

The government policy is interpreted as a preparatory step toward the resolution of the questions of the POWs and kidnapped being included in the category of separated families.