Communist prisoners¡¯ family, converts remain

The government said August 22 that according to the June 15 South-North Korean Declaration, 63 long-term Communist prisoners will be returned to North Korea September 2. However, their families and prisoners who have renounced Communism will not be repatriated.

Therefore, 4 out of 40 non-converted, long-term prisoners -- one who had hoped to take his mother with him and the others with wives -- must leave their family behind. Chung Soon-Duck, 67 years-old, and Chung Soon-Taek, 79 years-old, renowned for their roles in the battle at Ppalchisan, will not be going back to North Korea since they had already signed a government agreement to renounce Communism.

Hong Yang-Ho, director-general of humanitarian aid at the Unification Ministry, said that the families of non-converted prisoners will be treated as separated families and must take similar steps to apply for letter correspondence and reunions with their North Korean family.

He also said that North Korea would announce whether it decides to accept all 63 Communist prisoners on August 23. Specific repatriation procedures, likely to follow similar steps as that of Lee In-Mo¡¯s repatriation, will be discussed with the North at the Panmunjeom liaison office.

Hong said the South and North have not agreed if the prisoners will be returned by plane or land transportation.

The government handed a list of 62 long-term Communist prisoners to North Korea at the Panmunjeom office August 18, and added 73 year-old Lee Doo-Gyun, who wished to return as well, to the list August 22.

Boo Hyung-Kwon bookum90@donga.com