ISTANBUL

South Korea on Friday called for the release of three South Korean missionaries reportedly detained in North Korea, following a recent UN report on the matter.

South Korea’s Ministry of Unification issued a statement urging North Korea to release the three men detained, reiterating the UN Human Rights Council's Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's opinion, which was published Thursday. The opinion called for the immediate release of the three South Korean Christian missionaries.

The UN working group said the arrest and detention of the three missionaries constitute an illegal and arbitrary deprivation of their freedom. It also called for their immediate release, as well as reparations and an independent investigation into their cases.

Kim Jung-wook, Kim Kook-kie, and Choi Chun-gil have reportedly been detained since their arrests, which occurred between 2013 and 2014. They were accused of being South Korean spies.

“The adoption of this opinion by the UN Working Group is an official confirmation by the international community that the North’s detention of these individuals is a clear violation of international law,” said the Ministry of Unification statement.

The South Korean government "strongly condemns North Korea’s illegal actions once again and calls for the immediate and unconditional release of our nationals," the ministry added.

The ministry also stated that it will "strive to resolve the issue as soon as possible by cooperating with countries, including the US and UK, as well as international religious organizations and groups."