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DPRK frees Hyundai worker: Yonhap

(Xinhua/Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-13 17:11

SEOUL: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) freed an employee from Republic of Korea (ROK) who has been detained in its territory for some four months, ROK's Yonhap News Agency reported.

Related readings:  Hyundai chief extends DPRK trip another day  Hyundai boss in DPRK for held employee  Top DPRK leader inspects naval university  DPRK nuke row: China urges diplomacy  Clinton, 2 journalists depart DPRK for US

The move came amid the chief of ROK's Hyundai Group visiting the DPRK in pursuit of his release, Yonhap said.

News channel YTN in ROK echoed the news, saying the worker will return to the country at local time 07:00 pm (1000 GMT).

The Hyundai employee, only known with his surname Yu, was detained by the DPRK authorities late March for publicly denouncing the regime and trying to allure a female DPRK worker to defect from the nation.

The release will likely ease tension between the rival Koreas and comes after former US President Bill Clinton last week went to Pyongyang to win the freedom of two US journalists also held since March for suspected illegal entry.