Seoul: Unification Minister Chung Dong-young met with families of those abducted by North Korea, promising to advance efforts on the issue, including resuming dialogue with Pyongyang.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the meeting occurred after the families' group agreed in June to cease leaflet campaigns aimed at North Korea. This decision followed an appeal by the Lee Jae Myung government, which sought to ease tensions and improve inter-Korean relations.
Choi Seong-ryong, leader of the group, reiterated his commitment to refrain from provoking North Korea, while urging the minister to resolve the abductee issue. In response, Minister Chung thanked the group for its cooperation with the Lee government and assured them that the government will strive to initiate dialogue with North Korea to address the matters of abductees and prisoners of war.
During the meeting, Kim Tae-joo, the wife of a fisherman abducted by North Korea in 1987, emotionally appealed to the minister for help in discovering her husband's fate. She expressed her desperation, noting that it has been forty years since she last had contact with him.
Minister Chung highlighted the unique pain experienced by the families and stressed the importance of resuming dialogue with North Korea to address their grievances.