U.N. Tries to Free 2 S. Koreans
The U.N. Command tried Saturday to win release of two South Korean farmers seized by North Korean soldiers while working close to the sensitive border line.
A dispute over whether the farmers violated the border complicated negotiations.
“The command is trying to recover the two farmers through dialogue with the [North’s] Korean People’s Army,” said spokesman Jim Coles. “The dialogue channel remains open.”
Twelve armed North Korean soldiers crossed into the southern half of the 2 1/2-mile buffer zone between the two Koreas on Friday and seized a woman and her son, the command said.
The U.N. and South Korea called it an apparent violation of the armistice and demanded the farmers’ release. But North Korea said late Friday that its soldiers legitimately seized the farmers it says were found on its side. The farmers were under investigation, it said.
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