The Defense Ministry says that, through November, six prisoners of war (POW) have returned to South Korea from the North this year.

A Defense Ministry official said the POWs and seven family members were able to return to the South through the government’s strengthened diplomatic efforts with surrounding countries.

Seventy-five POWs and nearly 160 of their family members have returned to South Korea since 1994.

The government is considering providing incentives, including financial compensation, to North Korea for the return of soldiers held prisoner since the end of the Korean War.

The government currently gives around 600 million won to POWs upon their return.

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