Yoo Seong-jin (C), a worker who was detained by North Korea, speaks to the media upon his arrival at the South Korean Customs, Immigration and Quarantine office, south of the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas, in Paju, north of Seoul, August 13, 2009, after he crossed the border. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo]

Responses in S. Korean society

South Korea's presidential office on Thursday expressed relief over a South Korean worker's release after being detained in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for 137 days.

"It may be a bit too late, but we are relieved that Yu is finally returning to his family," Lee Dong-kwan, spokesman for the presidential office, said in a written briefing.

Political parties, although showing differences towards the government's current policy line towards the DPRK, unanimously welcomed Yu's release.

Yu's family and coworkers were also relieved by the news of Yu' s release, with his father telling reporters, "I thank all those who have worked for his release so far."

Hyundai Asan Corp.'s officials were delighted by his release, especially as it came while the group chief was staying in Pyongyang, according to Yonhap.

The Kaesong Industrial Council, which represents South Korean businesses investing in Kaesong, also expressed hopes that Yu's return may improve the deteriorated business situations at the complex.

"We hope this incident will help melt the frozen inter-Korean relations and revive the Kaesong industrial park," the council said in a statement.

Inter-Korean relations in the aftermath

According to multiple local media and experts, the release may lead to a breakthrough in deadlocked inter-Korean relations.

The incident, which came only a few days after the release of the two U.S. journalists, can be interpreted as the DPRK's intentions of further dialogue, South Korea's TV channel SBS said.

"The DPRK may be aiming at creating an inter-Korean or U.S.- DPRK dialogue mood by taking more softened postures," Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korea Studies, said.

The South Korean government may expand non-governmental organizations' humanitarian aids to the nation, which it re- approved early this month, SBS said.

The working-level talks between two Koreas, which have been suspended since July 2, are expected to be resumed as one of the main issues has been settled, the media added.

The presidential office, however, said it will maintain its current policy towards the DPRK.

While the opposition Democratic Party called for an adjustment in the policy direction, the ruling Grand National Party condemned the DPRK supported the government's "consistent, principle-based" policy.

Many experts are saying that it may be hard to expect a melt- down in inter-Korean relations as problems such as a South Korean boat captured by the DPRK are still lingering, SBS reported.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2009)