71 years later, prisoners of war in North Korea are still waiting to return home



News 71 years later, prisoners of war in North Korea are still waiting to return home POWs have long been an afterthought in Seoul’s inter-Korean policy, and those still alive are running out of time Chaewon Chung December 17, 2021 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON NK News (file) \| Man seen behind barbed wire fencing at the inter-Korean border in 2011 From inside a prison camp in Kangdong county, Yoo Young-bok watched as artillery shells lit up the night sky, a celebration of North Korea’s “victory” in the Korean War, and felt a hope spark inside him. “We will be able to go back home soon,” he thought on that evening in 1953, anticipating an exchange of North and South Korean prisoners of war (POWs) like himself. He would be able to see his father and younger sister soon enough. But weeks of waiting turned into months. Months turned into years. “There is a saying that rivers and mountains change after © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. Get the Daily Update & Podcast Updates Start your day with the North Korea stories that matter most – as selected by Trending

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71 years later, prisoners of war in North Korea are still waiting to return home

POWs have long been an afterthought in Seoul’s inter-Korean policy, and those still alive are running out of time

Chaewon Chung December 17, 2021

71 years later, prisoners of war in North Korea are still waiting to return home

NK News (file) | Man seen behind barbed wire fencing at the inter-Korean border in 2011

From inside a prison camp in Kangdong county, Yoo Young-bok watched as artillery shells lit up the night sky, a celebration of North Korea’s “victory” in the Korean War, and felt a hope spark inside him.

“We will be able to go back home soon,” he thought on that evening in 1953, anticipating an exchange of North and South Korean prisoners of war (POWs) like himself. He would be able to see his father and younger sister soon enough.

But weeks of waiting turned into months. Months turned into years.

“There is a saying that rivers and mountains change after

71 years later, prisoners of war in North Korea are still waiting to return home

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Chaewon Chung

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