South Korea is willing to discuss the repatriation of long-time, unconverted North Korean prisoners of war as part of efforts to secure the release of ROK nationals held in the DPRK, Seoul’s top security official told NK News on Wednesday, after President Lee Jae Myung indicated he was unaware of the South Korean detainees.

“We aim to make efforts, including consultations with the North, to secure the release of these ROK citizens. And we are willing to send unconverted communists — the long-term prisoners — to the North,” Seoul’s National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac told NK News.