『He Is Alive』"The only way is to appeal to the justice of the UN"
(No. 6) Feb. 26,1952, Dong-A Daily
Keep an eye on developments at Panmun-jeom

Moderator: Enduring indescribable pain,you have kept faith that your husbands are alive and will come back home soon. No one can predict the results of the Military Armistice Conference being held at Panmun-jeom. And, not long ago there was a rumor that the UN delegation had given up the argument about exchanging North Korean POWs for abductees. I think you've been deeply disappointed by this rumor. But the truth is that the UN delegation did not give up the idea of rescuing civilian abductees; it just took a step back on how to make the exchange. What do you think should be done to have your husband’s come back home safe and sound as you're hoping?
Mrs. Yang (Yang Me-rin): I think the UN delegation should exchange North Korean POWs for civilian abductees.

Mrs. Hyeon (Baek Suk-ryang): I think that is the only way, and it is only possible if the UN delegation makes a strong case.

Mrs. Gang (Park Ok-chul): I think the government should make more effortto address the issue of abductees. When this issue was brought up at the Military Armistice Conference, my family and I were so happy and it gave us hope. But now I hear the UN delegation gave up the issue of the repatriation of civilian abductees. I want the UN delegation and the government to push the issue more aggressively at the conference. Does the government really have any measures to address this issue?

Mrs. Park (Kim Yeong-ae): I think there are three ways to solve this issue. First, the Military Armistice Talks, I have high expectations for this. I think that the civilian abductees should be exchanged for POWs on a one-to-one basis under the supervision of the International Red Cross. Second, reunification. If South and North are reunited, as I pray for again and again, I, too, will be able to reunite with my husband. Last, God’s mercy. Maybe God will show sympathy and give us a miracle. Every night… I miss him so much… Every night the face of my husband stays in my mind until I fall asleep.

Mrs. Park (Yu Song-juk): Our husbands were non-combat personnel. They must be exchanged for POWs one-to-one.

Mrs. Gu (Park In-suk): I think if civilian abductees are part of the POW exchange then their return will be possible. But, now that the UN delegation is wavering, I think there must be a national campaign to stir up public opinion.

Mrs. An (Kim Bu-rye): I want the UN delegation to use every means to get our husbands back.

Mrs. Lee (Lee Dal-nam): It would be best if our armymarched into the North and reunited the two Koreas. But right now, the representative of the UN delegation must work to exchange civilian abductees and POWs one-to-one, because in a broad sense they, too, are POWs.

Mrs. Son (YeonKyeong-hwa): I urge the government to appeal to the justice of the UN. If parents do nothing when they see their loved children about to be eaten by a tiger, they have no right to be parents. Our husbands are the sons of this country. They devoted themselves to and worked hard for their country. They must be waiting for the government to come and rescue them. They were abducted while fighting for the country with their bare hands when Seoul was besieged by the North Korean Army on June 28. Even though they didn’t have weapons, they were soldiers and combatants. For the sake of justice, the government must do what it can to bring them back in a one-to-one POW exchange.