|
The families of South Korean abduction victims have called on Pyongyang to admit to the kidnapping 28 years ago of three South Korean high school students, of whom the North denies all knowledge. They also asked both Korean governments to allow them to meet their abducted relatives separately from regular reunions of families separated by the Korean War. The demand came at a press conference Tuesday from Choi Sung-yong, the president of the Family Assembly Abducted to North Korea, an activist group for families of South Koreans abducted by North Korea, and other family members of abduction victims.
Choi urged the North to admit to the abductions, confirm the victims are safe, and hold special reunions. He also urged Seoul to enact a law on the matter and pressure the North to reveal the whereabouts of the victims and repatriate them. Choi¡¯s organization presented a petition on the issue to the National Assembly on June 12.
At a separate press conference, other organizations of abduction victims¡¯ families -- the Korean War Abductees' Family Union and the Families of the Abducted and Detained in North Korea -- called on the government to bring the victims back home. In a statement, they sought apologies from the North and the Ministry of Unification, and urged Pyongyang to stop covering up the kidnappings.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
