President Lee Myung Bak today told King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, who is visiting Seoul, “The UN has issued a resolution calling for her freeing, and a few days ago the European Parliament also raised the issue of North Korean human rights. There is the feeling that maybe if the world takes an interest in it then Shin Suk Ja will be able to come back.”

President Lee then went on, “Issues of North Korea human rights and freedom are part of the North Korea problem, and as important as denuclearization,” a spokesperson for the Blue House explained.

“King Gustaf ordered Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs Frank Belfrage to establish the truth of the Shin Suk Ja issue,” the spokesperson noted.

Lee also reportedly thanked King Gustaf for Sweden's unstinting support for South Korea since the Korean War.