|
The government has decided to recognize four fishermen on the Gilyong that was hijacked by North Korea as abduction victims, the Unification Ministry said Wednesday. The identity of the four men was confirmed by a picture of 31 abducted fishermen published by the Chosun Ilbo in May.
The Gilyong with 15 people on board disappeared in January 1966 after a radio message saying it was being dragged by an unidentified Chinese vessel. That is why the boat was long thought to have been abducted by China. But that changed when a North Korean defector testified that he had met a member of the crew in North Korea and heard that all 15 were taken to the North.
In Oct 2004, Seo Tae-bong, one of the fishermen, managed to send a letter to his family in the South. The abduction was finally confirmed after a picture of 31 abducted fishermen, which shows Seo and Jeong Bok-shik in the group, was released.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
