Korea War: Repatriation of soldiers & civilians

Red Cross officials to meet over kidnapped S. Korean soldiers, civilians

Red Cross officials from South and North Korea will meet on Aug. 23-25 to discuss the repatriation of soldiers and civilians forcibly taken to the North during and after the 1950-53 Korea War, government officials said on Monday (Aug. 22).

The three-day meeting at the North's scenic Mt. Geumgang will also address whether to hold another round of video conference-based reunions for family members separated by half a century of division, and the issue of allowing exchanges of gifts and letters among the separated families, the officials said.

The meeting will be the sixth of its kind and the second in nearly two years. The last round was held in November 2003 to agree on the construction of a meeting venue for the separated families at Mt. Geumgang.

South Korea believes about 500 of its soldiers and 480 civilians are still being held captive in the North.

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