Aug. 24, 2007

Activists to Highlight Victims of N. Korea's Abductions

Activists will demonstrate in front of the White House in Washington from Sept. 1 for the release by North Korea of survivors among 83,000 South Koreans abducted during the Korean War.

The Citizen's Coalition for Human Rights of Abductees and North Korean Refugees said Thursday it will call out every single one of the 83,000 names every day to let the international community know that surviving wartime abduction victims still languish in the North and call for their safe return.

At the event, members of the coalition will take turns calling out the names of victims. A Japanese organization named Rescuing Abductees Center for Help will join in the event and the name of 10 Japanese victims of wartime abduction will also be called.

Alongside the event, the Korean War Abductees' Family Union is seeking to submit a resolution calling for their return to the U.S. Congress. Such activities are expected to intensify as the second inter-Korean summit looms closer.

Lee Mi-il, the president of KWAFU, which compiled the list, said Monday the resolution would be presented to Congress with the support of Republican representatives Frank Wolf and Edward Royce.