hankyoreh

The Ministry of National Defense has announced that it will call for a U.N. resolution on the return of Korean prisoners of war in North Korea.

The ministry said, “The government will raise this issue via international organizations so that the international community exercises its influence over it.” The ministry said that it had made its decision because the U.N. resolution has become an objective standard in deciding whether or not international sanctions will be imposed, or assistance provided, to nations found to be violating human rights. The ministry is also considering finding a way to support campaigns by domestic and international human rights groups submitting petitions to the United Nations.

The transition team of President-elect Lee Myung-bak told the ministry to concentrate on resolving the issue of POWs during the ministry’s briefing to the team on January 8. As of the end of October last year, 70 had returned to the South and 13 had died of old age. The government estimates that approximately 560 Korean soldiers remain in North Korea.

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