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Inter-Korean Red Cross Talks End at DPRK Mount Geumgang

Posted on: Friday, 26 August 2005, 09:00 CDT

Inter-Korean Red Cross talks end at DPRK Mount Geumgang

SEOUL, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- A three-day inter-Korean Red Cross talks ended on late Thursday at Mount Geumgang in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), reported South Korean Yonhap News Agency on Friday.

However, the two sides failed to make agreement over the thorny issues of South Korean prisoners of war (POWs) in the Korean War ( 1950-1953) and abducted civilians held in the DPRK.

The two sides only issued a brief joint statement saying,"Both sides have found common ground in many parts and have decided to continue to discuss some issues."

"We made serious efforts to find a breakthrough to the issue of confirming the fate of people whose fate became unknown during and after the Korean War," Chang Suk-june, secretary-general of the (South) Korean National Red Cross, was quoted by Yonhap as saying.

South Korea estimates more than 540 POWs and nearly 500 abducted civilians, mostly fishermen, are still alive in the DPRK.

However, the DPRK side reportedly only agreed to help South Korea to locate the South Koreans disappeared during the Korean War.

The DPRK side previously did not admit the existence of South Korean POWs and abducted civilians in its territory.

In the 15th round of Inter-Korean Ministerial Meeting held in Seoul in late June, the two sides agreed to discuss the issue in inter-Korean Red Cross talks.

Despite severe differences over the issue of South Korean POWs and abducted civilians, South Korea and the DPRK preliminarily agreed on the need to hold an additional round of face-to-face reunions for separated families within the end of year.

The two sides will hold separated families' reunions from later Friday to next Wednesday at Geumgang mountain.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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