Choe Chun Gil from the ROK speaks at a news conference in Pyongyang, March 26, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

ROK urges DPRK to return 2 detained nationals

ROK's unification ministry in charge of inter-Korean relations on Friday urged the DPRK to immediately return the two men.

"It is very regrettable that North Korea (DPRK) makes an absurd claim about our nationals Kim Kuk-gi and Choe Chun-gil unilaterally detained (in the DPRK) without giving any advance explanations about it to our government," the Unification Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said that what the KCNA reported should be reviewed after the two are repatriated to Seoul, urging the DPRK to immediately release Kim and Choe and guarantee their safety and convenience before their release.