News-Info-Alerts

To: ALL

From: Andi Wolos & Bob Necci

(POW-MIA InterNetwork)

Re: American POWs May Be Held In North Korea

Date: June 12, 2000

After fifty years the Forgotten War of Korea has remained, at the very least, a silent war. Silent in the cold shoulder treatement the adversaries foist upon one another, silent in the respect and consideration that should always be offered to the honored Korean War veterans, but most noticeably, silent on the issue of American POWs and MIAs from this miserable war.

Over the years the question of Korean War POWs and MIAs has been contentious and disturbing because of the continued sightings and reports of LIVING POWs in Communist North Korea, and the inability or unwillingness of US appointed and disappointing officials to resolve the fates of more than 8,000 men who remained 'unaccounted-for.'

Men who were KNOWN to have been in captivity, did not return during the Prisoner exchanges. Men who have been discussed in thorough and US-sponsored reports and documents, did not return... nor have their remains been repatriated. Men like Cole and Tsouras have penned compelling, intelligent reports on the proclivity of the Communists to retain US POWs and target specific crews and personnel, yet the USG, North Korea, China and the formerr USSr eamain silent.

And once again, we hear the troubling reports that American POWs might remain alive in the grip of Communist North Korea. Newsweek is quoting a Pentagon researcher, Insung Lee, as saying "that as many as 10 to 15 US former POWs may still be living inside North Korea."

This is not the first time that Lee has stated such. He is reportedly standing by a 1996 report he presented to Congress stating "there are too many live-sighting reports" of former US prisoners in North Korea to rule out the possibility that some prisoners are indeed still alive."

Reportedly, the Department of Defense in Washington, DeCeit, claimed Lee spoke for himself and did not back his position. (so what else is new?) However, during this go-round, yet another US official has backed Lee's conclusions by stating "... with increasing numbers of North Koreans fleeing to China and South Korea, there have been increasing reports of US POWs surviving in North Korea."

This dovetails with previous reports that US POWs were held by North Korea and had been used as English tutors in military training facilities. And the first-hand, live-sighting reports have continued well-past Lee's 1996 report.

As anticipated, the US is sticking to its scavenger hunt plan... remains, remains, remains... but never utters a word about Living American POWs and MIAs.

For more on the issue of Korean War POWs, please read -

Dr. Paul Cole - POW/MIA Issues

Peter Tsouras - The 77 Page Transfer Report

AII POW-MIA Korean War Archives Section