DPRK accuses S Korea of launching "another political provocation"

English.news.cn   2010-12-24 16:11:19

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PYONGYANG, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) accused South Korea of raising the "abductees" issue, calling it "another vicious political provocation," the official KCNA news agency reported Friday.

A spokesman for the National Reconciliation Council released a statement on Friday blasting South Korea for its announcement that Seoul would "probe into the truth behind the abduction of South Koreans by the north during the war time," the KCNA said.

The "abductees" are those who came to the care of the DPRK of their own accord and South Korea is using them for their propaganda purpose, the statement said.

The campaign of South Korea is aimed at diverting elsewhere public opinion, getting rid of its isolation and crisis and saving its policy for confrontation with the DPRK from total failure, it said.

The statement also urged South Korea to immediately stop "such ridiculous racket," which would only throw obstacles in the way of solving the issue of the separated families and relatives.

According to the report, South Korea decided to set up an organization with Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik as its chairman to investigate the issues of "abductees," with an aim to bring them back to South Korea.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-12/24/c_13663460.htm

Truth panel launched for war kidnap victims

2010-12-13 19:04

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A government fact-finding panel was launched Monday on South Koreans kidnapped by North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War. 

Within the four years of its legal investigation period, the truth commission will receive reports on abduction victims from their relatives and discuss ways to repatriate the survivors. 

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik, the panel consists of 15 members, including security-related ministers, civil experts and family representatives.

Even though an investigation and related compensation have been made by the government, the panel marks the first time all related government offices will work together to deal with the kidnap issue. 

There are seven lists of South Korean abductees that were published in the 1950s and ‘60s. However, they contain different figures with a lack of correct descriptions of damages. 

Based on the existing data, the government estimates that more than 100,000 South Korean citizens, including some 80 lawmakers and 230 journalists, were abducted to the North during the Korean War. 

Starting from early January, remaining family members can submit a request through local government offices and embassies abroad. 

The panel also plans to conduct an overseas inspection in the U.S. and Russia.

“Sixty years have passed since the Korean War broke out. However, no meaningful discussion has been made over the kidnap issue,” said You Jong-ryeol, the committee’s secretary general. 

“If the truth of the issue is revealed, that would be used as important data in the future when we talk with the North about identification and repatriation of the survivors,” he added. 

However, it would be still difficult to figure out whether the person was abducted or voluntarily defected to the North. 

North Korea has officially denied the existence of South Korean abductees, including war prisoners. 

Since 2006, the South Korean government has requested the identification of 22 abductees to the North on occasions when there were family reunion events. But only two deaths have been confirmed thus far.

By Lee Ji-yoon (jylee@heraldm.com)

http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20101213000922