Escaped Korean POW to Testify Before U.S. Congress

Chairman Thomas Chung (Chung Yong-bong) of the Los Angeles based Repatriation Committee for Korean POWs detained in North Korea said on March 21 that Korean POWs who escaped from North Korea will testify before the U.S. Congress for the first time ever.

Reserve lieutenant Cho Chang-ho (71) and Kim Chang-seok (alias, 72) who escaped from North Korea in 1994 and 2000, respectively, will participate in a forum at the Rayburn Building of the Congress on April 22 and testify on the current status of Korean POWs in North Korea.

The forum will have the preparatory characteristics of an official hearing by the U.S. Congress. International Relations Committee chairman Henry Hyde, who recently created controversy over the “main enemy” statement, Defense Forum president Susan Scholte, representatives of Korean War participants, and congressmen who are veterans of the Korean or Vietnam wars, or who have U.S. Forces Korea experience will attend.