North Korean Abductions of South Koreans - Various Inter-Korean Talks Held

Various Inter-Korean Talks Held

The Seoul government has clarified that resolving the Korean War POW and abductee issue is not only part of the Korean Government's basic responsibility for protecting its citizens, but also one of the highest priorities. But despite the South Korean government's official urging for the North Korean government to deal with the abduction issue, there has no substantial results so far. Since the inter-Korean Summit held in 2000, the South and the North dealt with the abduction issue at the various level talks; the second South–North Summit, inter-Korean Prime Minister talk, and rounds of ministerial-level or inter-Korean Red Cross talks.

• On June 15, 2000, at the first South–North Summit, South Korean President Kim Dae Jung and his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong-il, agreed to settle humanitarian issues as early as possible, including the exchange of visiting groups of separated families and relatives. But from the words and phrases of their agreement, or June 15th North–South Joint Declaration, there were no reference about the abductee issue.
  • In the same year, South Korea repatriated 63 convicted Communist spies and thereafter provided billions of dollars' worth of aid and trade to the North. But it has been reluctant to challenge Pyongyang's denials that it had abducted any South Koreans - even though Kim Jong-il admitted in 2002 that North Korea had kidnapped thirteen Japanese citizens, and released five.
• On June 24, 2005, at the fifteenth round of Inter-Korean Ministerial Talks held in Seoul, the South and the North agreed to hold the sixth round of inter-Korean Red Cross talks to consult about humanitarian issues including confirmation of the fates and whereabouts of the missing people during Korean War.
  • But, during the sixth round of inter-Korean Red Cross talks held in August 2005, the South and the North discussed the issue of confirming the fates and whereabouts of missing people during the Korean War, but produced no concrete results.

• During the eighth round of inter-Korean Red Cross talks held in April 2007, both Koreas agreed on: “within the framework of family reunion meetings”, cooperating and addressing the issue regarding those who have been missing "during or after" the Korean War. It seemed to be a more realistic approach, but also showed that North Korea was still refusing to admit any cases of abduction of South Koreans.

• At the second South–North Summit, on October 4, 2007, Roh Moo-hyun raised the POW and abduction issue to Kim Jong-il, but he failed to achieve a settlement because Kim did not respond.

• First inter-Korean PM talks in November 2007 and ninth round of inter-Korean Red Cross talks (in November 2007) reconfirmed the agreement of 8th round of Red Cross talks.