S. Korean PM calls on DPRK to release foreign detainees

South Korea's Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon on Sunday called for South Korean and American prisoners in the DPRK to be released, during a commemoration ceremony in Seoul marking the 67th anniversary of the start of the Korean War.

He spoke about the international community's anger over the death of US student Otto Warmbier, who passed away less than a week after being released by the DPRK.

Lee urged Pyongyang to return all South Korean and American detainees to their home countries, and also called for the DPRK to halt its nuclear and missile developments. According to Yonhap, there are three more Americans being held by Pyongyang as well as six South Korean nationals.

"I urge the DPRK again to stop its nuclear and missile advancement if the country respects the June 15th Joint Declaration and October 4th Inter-Korean Summit Declaration. The country should come out on the path towards denuclearization,” said Lee.

Around 5,000 people took part in the event, including war veterans, government officials and US Forces Korea officials. The Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty, in 1953, meaning that the two sides are technically still at war.

(CGTN)