BBC International Reports (Asia)
South Korean prisoner of war believed detained in North prison camp
A South Korean prisoner of war, Han Man-taek, 72, whom China repatriated
to North Korea in January, has been sent to a prison camp there, a civic
organization official said yesterday. Choi Song-yong, head of the Abductees'
Family Union, a non-governmental group, claimed that various sources have
confirmed that Mr Han was sent to a prison camp located in South Pyongan
Province in April.
Mr Choi held a press conference yesterday with Mr Han's family members and
also released a recording of talks between Mr Han and his nephew in South
Korea that took place in March. In the phone conversation, Mr Han told his
nephew he had been beaten by North Korean authorities and was worried about
the safety of his family members in the North.
Mr Choi said the phone conversation was recorded by a person sent into the
North to help Mr Han escape. "We tried to get him out but could not do it.
We were just able to get the recording," said Mr Choi.
Kim Moon-soo, a Grand National Party lawmaker, also said yesterday he had
submitted a bill to the National Assembly asking for an investigation. Mr
Kim said it needs to be asked whether Seoul handled the case properly and
urged the government to bring Mr Han home.
Mr Han, captured by the North during the Korean War, escaped into China
late last year. From there, he contacted relatives in South Korea who went
to China but were unable to bring him back before Chinese police arrested
him on 27 December. At the time of his arrest, Seoul asked China not to
return Mr Han to the North.
In January, family members of Mr Han returned a medal that Seoul had
awarded him and urged the government to secure his release.
The South Korean Defence Ministry estimates that there are more than 500
South Korean prisoners of war still held in the North. Nevertheless, Seoul
has been under fire from civic organizations here for its kid-gloves
handling of the issue, despite giving masses of rice and fertilizer in
annual aid to the North in recent years.
In August, inter-Korean Red Cross talks ended in discord for the first time
in over four years, as Pyongyang's representatives rejected requests to
verify the fate of South Korean prisoners of war and civilians abducted by
the North.
Source: Chungang Ilbo, Seoul, in English 5 Dec 05
Text of report by Brian Lee entitled: "POW's relatives hit government for
lack of action", published in English by South Korean newspaper Chungang
Ilbo website on 5 December