The South Korean government began Monday receiving reports on South Koreans believed to have been kidnapped to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) during the 1950-53 Korean War.

A newly created government committee, tasked with confirming such reports and restoring reputation of those held north of the border, will receive reports for the next three years and deliberate on each case to decide whether to acknowledge applicants as abductees.

The committee is scheduled to write a comprehensive report on its activities during the final six months of its four-year stint.

The DPRK has denied the charge it kidnapped South Koreans during the 1950-53 war, claiming South Koreans have gone there voluntarily.