Seoul: North Korea has been accused of blocking the return of its 27 nationals who strayed across the border in the South.
The North has said Seoul is keeping hostage four North Koreans, from a boatload of 31 which drifted over the sea border in heavy fog on February 5.
The refugee return row comes while South Korea is hosting large-scale military drills with the United States.
Both North and South have called for talks to ease tensions; the last effort ended without agreement last month.
South Korea’s Unification Minister, Hyun In-taek, told parliament he was respecting the free will of the four people who had chosen to stay in the South.
When South Korean officials took the 27 others to the Panmunjom border village there were no North Koreans prepared to accept the group, Seoul said.
“We are still waiting for North Korea’s response but we cannot wait forever,” said a ministry spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo.
“We will make a decision if North Korea keeps silent,” she told media.
For its part, North Korea has accused the South of “despicable unethical acts”.
“This cannot be interpreted otherwise than a grave provocation to the DPRK (North Korea),” said a statement attributed to a spokesman for the North’s Red Cross.
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