The presidential office says that it is doing its best to secure the release of six South Korean nationals detained in North Korea.

A senior presidential official made the comment to reporters on Thursday when asked about progress on the matter. 

President Moon Jae-in asked for their release during his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on April 27th, but the North has yet to give a response. 

The official said that if the date and venue for the U.S.-North Korea summit are fixed this week, the first hotline conversation between the leaders of the two Koreas may come earlier than expected. 

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he will announce the date and site for his meeting with Kim within three days.

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