The Unification Ministry has proposed working-level Red Cross talks between the two Koreas concerning the defection of four North Koreans to the South.

The ministry sent a cable to North Korea’s Red Cross Society in the name of the South Korean counterpart to hold discussion about the defectors. The cable proposes the talks be held at the Panmunjeom truce village at 10 a.m. on May fourth.

A ministry official said that South Korea’s stance is unchanged over North Korea’s demands, which include face-to-face meetings with the defectors and discussions over repatriating them. The official said that South Korea is of the position that it will confirm in a fair, objective method that the four defectors chose to stay in the South.

The defectors were among 31 North Koreans who floated into South Korean waters in a fishing vessel in February. The other 27 have since returned to the North, and North Korea has continued to call for discussions to confirm that the four defectors were not coerced by the South.

The official also said that prisoners of war and those kidnapped from South Korea are being held in North Korea against their will, and that these issues should also be discussed.