ID :
52623
Sat, 03/28/2009 - 08:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/52623
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea to begin rehabilitation program for Korean War prisoners
SEOUL, March 27 (Yonhap) -- The defense ministry said Friday it has set up a program to facilitate the resettlement of South Korean soldiers who returned from North Korea after being captured during the Korean War nearly six decades ago.
The program, set to begin on April 1, comes as a result of a new law that calls
for counseling and training to help former prisoners of war (POWs) better adapt
to their new life in the South.
About 560 South Korean POWs remain alive in North Korea -- most of them over the
age of 70 -- the Ministry of National Defense believes. Less than 80 have
returned since the mid-1990's because Pyongyang refuses to formally admit holding
war prisoners.
"The training focuses on helping the former POWs to more stably settle in our
society because they are unfamiliar with the situation here after spending a long
time in the North," the ministry said in a statement.
"The main contents include knowledge aimed at improving their understanding of
economic, legal, social and cultural aspects," it said.
The Koreas remain technically at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a
truce. North Korea has cut off all cross-border dialogue over South Korea's
conservative policy toward it since last year.
Two former POWs have already undergone a pilot rehabilitation program and shown
satisfaction, the defense ministry said, adding about 10 million won (US$7,400)
will be spent on each person for eight weeks of training.
The talks on returning South Korean POWs remain stalled as the relations between
the Koreas remain at one of their worst points in a decade.
About 8,300 prisoners of war were returned to South Korea following the Korean
War even though the United Nations estimated 82,000 South Korean soldiers went
missing during the conflict.
South Korean prisoners of war often escape North Korea and return home via a
third country, such as China. More than 15,000 North Korean residents have
defected to the South since 1953.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
The program, set to begin on April 1, comes as a result of a new law that calls
for counseling and training to help former prisoners of war (POWs) better adapt
to their new life in the South.
About 560 South Korean POWs remain alive in North Korea -- most of them over the
age of 70 -- the Ministry of National Defense believes. Less than 80 have
returned since the mid-1990's because Pyongyang refuses to formally admit holding
war prisoners.
"The training focuses on helping the former POWs to more stably settle in our
society because they are unfamiliar with the situation here after spending a long
time in the North," the ministry said in a statement.
"The main contents include knowledge aimed at improving their understanding of
economic, legal, social and cultural aspects," it said.
The Koreas remain technically at war because their 1950-53 conflict ended in a
truce. North Korea has cut off all cross-border dialogue over South Korea's
conservative policy toward it since last year.
Two former POWs have already undergone a pilot rehabilitation program and shown
satisfaction, the defense ministry said, adding about 10 million won (US$7,400)
will be spent on each person for eight weeks of training.
The talks on returning South Korean POWs remain stalled as the relations between
the Koreas remain at one of their worst points in a decade.
About 8,300 prisoners of war were returned to South Korea following the Korean
War even though the United Nations estimated 82,000 South Korean soldiers went
missing during the conflict.
South Korean prisoners of war often escape North Korea and return home via a
third country, such as China. More than 15,000 North Korean residents have
defected to the South since 1953.
samkim@yna.co.kr
(END)
