Defense Ministry Estimates 538 Captives Still Alive in North Korea

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced on Thursday, October 14 that "from the statements of 42 North Korean defectors in Seoul, it is estimated that some 538 captives are still alive in North Korea as of the end of September."

The MND made this statement in its booklet: “Prisoners of War (POW) in North Korea – Actual Conditions and Countermeasures,” and revealed, "We are planning to identify the existence and address of the captives and will push to allow correspondence and meetings with their families in South Korea."

A MND official emphasized, "There isn`t a clear legal foundation to sufficiently support the defection of North Korean captives. Legal assistance must be provided for them."

Ho-Won Choi bestiger@donga.com