Abductee family group to consider not sending leaflets to N. Korea
Choi Seong-ryong, the head of the group, said he received a positive message by phone from a high-ranking government official on Monday and will later decide whether to stop sending leaflets to North Korea after discussions with group members.
The remarks came after Choi told reporters a week ago that his group is willing to halt the leaflet distribution if President Lee Jae Myung helps confirm the life or death of abductees through dialogue with the North and meets and comforts families of the abductees, particularly those in their 90s.
This year, Choi's group sent anti-North Korean leaflets across the border by balloons or drones from Imjingak in Paju on April 27, from Cheorwon in Gangwon Province on May 8 and from a border area in Paju on June 2.
But the Lee government has said it will consider revising the relevant laws and take steps to block the distribution of anti-North leaflets from the border areas.
"The current government officials understand the abduction issue better than anyone else and they have helped us a lot in the past. I hope this government will definitely create an opportunity to confirm the life or death of the abduction victims through inter-Korean dialogue," said Choi in a meeting with reporters after paying his respects at the Belgium-Luxembourg War Memorial in Dongducheon, north of Seoul, to mark the 75th anniversary of the 1950-53 Korean War.
Choi's father was kidnapped in 1967 while fishing near Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea and executed in North Korea in 1972 due to his history of cooperating with the US military during the Korean War. (Yonhap)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
4 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Lee seeks stronger ties in calls with German, Uzbek leaders
President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday held separate phone calls with his counterparts in Germany and Uzbekistan, his office said, to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation. During his call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Lee highlighted the strong relationship between the two nations. Merz agreed, noting that Germany and South Korea are important partners that share the core values of democracy, human rights and free trade. The two leaders also agreed on the hope of meeting at the earliest opportunity. In his conversation with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Lee expressed his hope to elevate the "special strategic partnership" between South Korea and Uzbekistan. Mirziyoyev reciprocated by saying he holds a "special affection" for South Korea and wishes to see the relationship continue to grow. The two also acknowledged their countries' successful and practical cooperation in various sectors, including infrastructure and transportation. Lee requested Mirziyoyev pay special attention to the difficulties South Korean companies face while operating in Uzbekistan. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
5 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Seoul, Tokyo top diplomats vow to strengthen ties in 1st phone call
Foreign Minister Cho Hyun on Thursday held his first phone call with his Japanese counterpart, Takeshi Iwaya, discussing regional issues and bilateral relations, the foreign ministry said. During the conversation, Cho stressed the importance of Seoul-Tokyo relations, describing them as a key axis of the South Korean government's pragmatic diplomacy, alongside trilateral cooperation with Washington. Cho, who took office on Monday, suggested the two countries work to build a more solid, future-oriented relationship based on mutual trust and understanding. The Japanese foreign minister congratulated Cho on his appointment and expressed his desire to continue and strengthen their close cooperation, according to the ministry. The ministry added both ministers agreed on the need to deepen mutual understanding and work closely together across various sectors, especially in light of complex global challenges. (Yonhap)
![[Contribution] Names we must never forget](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F07%2F24%2Fnews-a.v1.20250724.948793676b2947b0989a2cd4209072c0_T1.png&w=3840&q=100)
Korea Herald
11 hours ago
- Korea Herald
[Contribution] Names we must never forget
By Jeong Ji-hyun In June 1950, the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War turned the entire peninsula into a battlefield. Yet in that desperate momeant, Korea was not alone. Young soldiers, from 16 combatant nations and six countries who sent medical support, united under the United Nations flag, answered the call to defend a distant land in the name of freedom. Despite differences in language and culture, their noble sacrifice laid the foundation for the peace and freedom we cherish today. To honor their noble service and sacrifice, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs of Republic of Korea has designated July 27 — the day the Korean War armistice agreement was signed in 1953 — as UN Forces Participation Day since 2010. Every year, an official ceremony is held to commemorate and honor UN troops who fought fearlessly by our side, ensuring that that their names are not forgotten, but remembered with dignity and gratitude and to remind us that freedom is not something we given freely but something we secured at great cost. The ministry spares no effort to assure that these valiant heroes are not left behind in history; strengthening ties with UN allies, maintaining national cemeteries and memorials across the country and expanding support for veterans so that our gratitude and respect reaches them in meaningful ways. Especially, in 2023, to mark the 70th anniversary of the armistice, the ministry produced and distributed specially designed symbolic uniforms for Korean War Veterans. These uniforms served as a visible expression of nationwide respect and gratitude so that our veterans are remembered not only in official ceremonies, but in the everlyday lives of our people. Yet no matter how well-prepared these policies or programs may be, the true meaning of honoring patriotic heroes carries on only through the remembrance and gratitude of our people. A single flower placed at a memorial, a respectful bow to veterans, a sincere word of thanks: These small gestures keep alive the names and stories of these heroes and sustain the spirit of the nation. As July 27 — UN Forces Participation Day — approaches, I hope we all take a moment to remember that peace we cherish today is never given freely. Across the country, numerous memorials and cemeteries have been established to honor the service and sacrifice of UN forces who fought during the Korean War. These sacred sites — including the United Nations Memorial Cemetery in Busan — stand as lasting tributes to the heroes who gave their lives for a country not their own. These sites offer a space to reflect, remember and give thanks. A visit to these UN forces related places is more than a symbolic gesture. It is an act of remembrance that reaffirms our gratitude. Let us strive to be a country that remembers its veterans not as anonymous figures, but as individuals with names, stories and everlasting legacies. This is the path we must walk together to make a true culture of honoring and the promise we must uphold together. Jeong Ji-hyun is an assistant director of the veterans affairs division at the Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. The Seoul Regional Office of Patriots and Veterans Affairs is affiliated with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and is responsible for veterans affairs in 12 districts in Seoul. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own. — Ed.
