South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pledged to address the abduction of South Korean citizens by North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War through dialogue and cooperation. He emphasized the government’s commitment to prevent the issue of abductees from being forgotten in history. Lee expressed sorrow for the families who have endured over 70 years without their abducted loved ones in North Korea and aimed to transition the relationship between the two Koreas from hostility to peaceful coexistence.
Sunday’s event commemorated the Korean War Abductees Remembrance Day, established by law in late 2024 to be observed annually on June 28. The gathering, attended by about 300 individuals including the vice unification minister, family members of abductees, and officials from relevant agencies, highlighted the ongoing efforts to address this long-standing issue. Additionally, South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young advocated for a new approach in dealing with the North Korean nuclear issue, emphasizing the need for a phased and pragmatic solution rather than solely focusing on denuclearization as a precondition for progress.
Chung urged a shift from the traditional stance that peace discussions can only follow the resolution of the North Korean nuclear problem. He emphasized the importance of a step-by-step process involving freezing, reducing, and eventually denuclearizing North Korea’s nuclear program. Chung also stressed the significance of resuming dialogue between the US and North Korea, as well as engaging in four-party talks among the US, China, and both Koreas to establish lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
