[Exclusive] Twice-Yearly Meetings of the Abductees Countermeasures Committee... Ministry of Unification Neglects for 10 Years

Yoon Emphasizes 'Efforts to Resolve Abductees' Through Summit Diplomacy
Ministry of Unification Neglected 'Pan-Government Countermeasures Committee' for 10 Years
New Related Organization Established Without Operating Existing Body
Taeyoungho: "Our Citizens' Lives Are at Stake... Must Not Be Neglected"

The Ministry of Unification has been confirmed to have not convened the intergovernmental "Abductees Countermeasure Committee," which is required to be held twice a year to resolve the abductees issue, for 10 years. After President Yoon Seok-yeol repeatedly expressed his determination to repatriate abductees, the Ministry of Unification established an "Abductees Countermeasure Team" directly under the minister last month. However, criticism has arisen that the ministry created a new internal organization while failing to properly operate the existing countermeasure body.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Unification to Tae Young-ho, a member of the People Power Party, on the 10th, the ministry convened the Abductees Countermeasure Committee twice in 2012 but has not held a single meeting of the committee up to this year. The Ministry of Unification was obligated to convene regular semiannual meetings according to the Prime Minister's directive enacted and implemented in December 2011, titled "Regulations on the Establishment and Operation of the Abductees Countermeasure Committee," but has failed to fulfill this duty for 10 years.

At the "10th June 25 Abductee Victims Remembrance Day" event held last June at the Imjingak National June 25 Korean War Abductee Victims Memorial in Paju-si, Gyeonggi Province, a victim's family member is gently touching a photo of their abducted family member. [Image source=Yonhap News]

At the time the directive was implemented, the Ministry of Unification explained its plan to establish the committee by stating, "Through the committee, we intend to explore multifaceted solutions to the abductees issue on an intergovernmental level." According to the directive, the committee is chaired by the Vice Minister of Unification and includes senior officials from related ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of National Defense, Office for Government Policy Coordination, and the National Intelligence Service. Specific tasks include ▲establishing comprehensive measures such as confirming mid- to long-term tasks ▲deciding solutions for work related to confirming the life status of abductees, exchanging letters, reunions, and repatriation.

President Yoon first declared "joint efforts to resolve the issues of prisoners of war, abductees, and detainees" at the Korea-US summit in April this year, and at the Korea-US-Japan summit held at Camp David in August, he emphasized that "we reaffirmed our joint will for the immediate resolution of the issues of abductees, detainees, and unrepatriated prisoners of war." Subsequently, the Ministry of Unification showed alignment by establishing the "Abductees Countermeasure Team" directly under the minister last month. However, the intergovernmental countermeasure body that was already in place has been neglected for 10 years without any particular reason.

Regarding the reason for not activating the committee, the Ministry of Unification responded, "Since reports containing issues such as abductees were submitted to the National Assembly through the 'Basic Plan for Separated Families' or 'Status of Promotion of North Korean Human Rights,' the committee was not convened separately." However, the brief mention of "efforts to resolve the abductees issue" in the Basic Plan for Separated Families and convening the committee at the intergovernmental level are separate matters. For the ministry's explanation to hold, the directive mandating the convening of the committee would have to be abolished, but its effect remains in force.

Tae Young-ho, member of the People Power Party. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

Assemblyman Tae Young-ho stated, "As reflected in the principles and spirit of Camp David, the abductees issue is the nation's most important responsibility concerning 'protection of the lives and safety of its citizens,'" and pointed out, "The Ministry of Unification should not neglect this issue." He added, "Since the Ministry of Unification has established the Abductees Countermeasure Team directly under the minister, it must make its best efforts, including strengthening international cooperation to resolve the abductees issue."

A Ministry of Unification official acknowledged, "It is stipulated that the Abductees Countermeasure Committee must be convened once each in the first and second half of the year, and it is indeed a mistake not to have followed the directive." The official added, "We will convene the committee in November and strive to ensure it operates effectively going forward."

Meanwhile, it is estimated that around 100,000 South Korean civilians were abducted during the Korean War. Even after the armistice agreement in July 1953, North Korea has not repatriated at least 516 individuals, including civilians abducted during the Vietnam War and the naval broadcast ship 'I-2' capture incident, as well as prisoners of war. In the past 10 years alone, North Korea has detained six South Korean citizens (Kim Guk-gi, Choi Chun-gil, Kim Jeong-uk, Kim Won-ho, Go Hyun-cheol, and one unidentified person).