News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci
(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: North Korean POWs

Date: June 21, 1998

Propaganda Department:
The North Korean news source out of Pyongyang is reporting the following...

On June 6th, an international meeting was held in Paris, France. The meeting was attended by lawyers for "repatriation of unconverted long-term prisoners in South Korea". Among the many statements delievered at the meeting was one that stated that South Korea must do away with its 'anti-reunification' laws and repatriate three long-term North Korean POWs and that pressure must be placed on the UN, South Korea and US authorities.

Not surprisingly absent was the mention of South Korean and AMERICAN POWS unrepatriated from North Korea. However, an appeal to governments, involvement of human rights groups, political parties and international groups, as well as a fact-finding mission to South Korea in support of North Korean POWs were put on the docket. Not surprisingly, no mention of an appeal, involvement of human rights groups, political parties and international groups or a fact-finding mission TO North Korea was evident.

For the record, we have the statements of Yang Sun-yong, a POW of North Korea for 45 years who escaped some months ago. According to this gentleman, he has personal knowledge of several dozen POWs who remain in captivity, and, Defense Ministry records confirm the names he has provided as legitimate South Korean MIAs. By combining these names with previously known unrepatriated men, there are in excess of 80 known South Korean POWs in North Korea. Yang Sun-yong stated that at one point nearly 600 unrepatriated POWs worked in collectives and coal mines, many succumbing due to the rigors of captivity and harsh conditions.

North Korea steadfastly denies any POWs, MIAs or missing persons (the recent situation with Japan should be remembered here) reside within their barricaded borders. Perhaps they believe if they say it enough, people might believe them. Their continued denials sound a bit Orwellian - "Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past."