Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo says the government will work to repatriate prisoners of war(POW) captured by North Korea during the Korean War.
 
Hong made the remark in a meeting with 13 former prisoners of war at the Seoul Government Complex on Wednesday.
 
The minister said resolving the issue has been difficult as the North denies the existence of POWs, but added that the government will continue to make an effort to confirm if they are alive or dead and organize meetings with their families in the South.
 
The government estimates that there are some 560 South Korean POWs in the North. However, many of them could already have passed away as most of them are around 90-years old. Only 80 POWs have returned to the South, 35 of whom are still living.
 
Until 2010, there had been a steady stream of POWs defecting from the North and returning home, however none have returned to the South since 2011. 

[Photo : ]