Additional Coverage:
- Presidential office confirms 6 citizens detained in N. Korea, vows efforts to release them (upi.com)
Seoul Confirms Detention of Six Nationals in North Korea, Seeks Immediate Talks
Seoul, South Korea – The presidential office in South Korea officially confirmed on Thursday that six South Korean nationals are currently being held in North Korea. The government has pledged to prioritize their release and is pushing for a swift resumption of talks with Pyongyang to address the situation.
Among the six detained individuals are three missionaries – Kim Jung-wook, Kim Kook-kie, and Choi Chun-gil – who were arrested by North Korean authorities between 2013 and 2014. The remaining three are North Korean defectors who had resettled in South Korea and were subsequently detained by the North between 2013 and 2016 on charges including espionage. The presidential office has chosen not to disclose the identities of these defectors to safeguard their families who remain in North Korea.
In a statement, the presidential office emphasized the urgency of the matter, noting, “As inter-Korean talks and exchanges were long suspended, the suffering of our people continues and the issue needs to be urgently addressed.”
This confirmation follows a press conference held the previous day, where President Lee Jae Myung was questioned about efforts to secure the release of detained South Koreans. President Lee stated that his office would investigate the matter, acknowledging that he had not been previously aware of these specific cases and lacked detailed information on individual circumstances.
The unification ministry has consistently advocated for the immediate and unconditional release of the missionaries, most recently reiterating its call in March after the United Nations adopted a report demanding their release.