Amid the heightened possibility of North Korea's release of American detainees, Unification Ministry Spokesman Baik Tae-hyun told reporters that Seoul is working to win the release of South Koreans held in the North.

Three South Korean missionaries and three North Korean defectors-turned naturalized citizens are being held by the Pyongyang regime.

In the Panmunjeom Declaration signed during last Friday's inter-Korean summit, South and North Korea agreed to swiftly resolve the humanitarian issues that resulted from the division. When asked if the specific clause in the agreement aims to resolve the detainee problem, the spokesman refused to elaborate on the implications of the accord.

Regarding reunions of separated families, Baik said that the government will make efforts to realize ways for family members to confirm one another's status, exchange letters and visit their hometowns which all had been issues that had only been discussed. 

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