On February 5, 2025, Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul met with representatives of organizations for abductees and prisoners of war (POWs), and the families of Korean missionaries who are detained in North Korea.

※ Participants: Chief Director Lee Sung Eui of the Korean War Abductees' Families Association, Representative Son Myeong-hwa of the Korean War POW Family Association, Kim Jeong-sam (brother of missionary Kim Jung-wook, who has been detained in North Korea since 2013), and Choi Jin-young (son of missionary Choi Chun-gil, who has been detained in North Korea since 2014)

Minister Cho highlighted that North Korean human rights, including the issues of abductees, POWs, and detainees, are not only a matter of universal values but are also directly related to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. He said that the government of the Republic of Korea has been raising its voice, together with the international community, to promote human rights in North Korea. Minister Cho expressed his sympathy for the families who are constantly kept in the dark about the fate of their loved ones, and appreciated the efforts of North Korean human rights activists who, through public testimonies at the United Nations Human Rights Council and General Assembly, have significantly contributed to raising international awareness.

Participants mentioned that the side event on North Korean human rights held during the UN General Assembly High-level Week in September and the fourth Universal Periodic Review of North Korea in November last year were excellent opportunities to raise international attention through collaboration between the government and civil society. They called on the government to continue making active efforts to resolve the issues of abductees, prisoners of war, and detainees.

Minister Cho emphasized that it is important to keep raising this issue, as North Korea is reacting sensitively to the international community's human rights concerns. He particularly stressed that the issues of abductees, detainees, and prisoners of war are a matter of fulfilling the government’s duty to protect its people and that the government will continue its efforts to consistently promote North Korean human rights.