Unification Ministry: 21 South Korean Abductees and POWs Alive

The Ministry of Unification announced yesterday that the number of South Korean abductees and POWs alive in the North, who were confirmed by North Korean authorities, is 21.

In a briefing on the same day, Ko Gyeong-bin, the director of Social and Cultural Exchanges Bureau of the Unification Ministry, said, “Seoul has asked Pyongyang to confirm the fate of about 50 South Korean abductees and POWs each in the process of promoting a total of 12 reunions of separate families since 2000,” adding, “Among them, the North notified us that 11 South Korean citizens abducted by the North and 10 South Korean POWs are alive.”

Ko added, “Besides these survivors, 10 South Korean abductees and six POWs were confirmed to have been dead.” He added, “Among those whose fate has been asked by the South Korean government, the number of South Korean abductees and POWs who have not been yet confirmed by the North stands at 34 and 38, respectively.”

According to the ministry, South Korean abductees and POWs who have so far been confirmed all held their reunions with their families.

The South Korean government has estimated that the number of South Korean POWs alive in the North is about 540 based on North Korean defectors’ statements.

On top of that, the number of South Korean people abducted by the North after the Korean War stands at 485.

Myoung-Gun Lee gun43@donga.com