Kim Affirmative on Sending Freed Political Prisoners to North

President Kim Dae Jung held an anniversary press conference at the Blue House(Chong Wa Dae) on February 24. He affirmed his intention of returning the long-time political prisoners to be released in a general amnesty to North Korea.
North Korea's Red Cross has asked South Korea to facilitate the delivery of 17 political prisoners to them.
Kim said, 'I want a frank discussion between the two Koreas on the transfer. I understand North Korea's request to hand over the 17 prisoners so they can be reunited with their families, but it must also realize our situation. There are still many prisoners from the Korean war and victims of kidnapping who are still being held by North Korea.'
This remark underlines the president's desire for some kind of mutual exchange. Kim asserted, 'It would be unfair if only one side repatriated individuals and the other did not. This would never be condoned by the people.'
He added, 'I would like to support North Korea, which is now in a serious poverty-stricken situation, by sending fertilizer and provisions through the Red Cross.'
Kim, once again, avoided answering on the introduction of a parliamentary cabinet system by commenting that he would decide the matter with Prime Minister Kim Jong Pil.