Politics
11:33, 28-Jul-2018
US considers additional search for soldiers' remains in DPRK
Updated
10:41, 31-Jul-2018
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US Defense Secretary James Mattis said Friday that his country is considering sending military personnel to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) to search for the remains of US soldiers who died in the 1950-1953 Korean War.
Mattis struck a confirmative tone when asked by the media whether he foresees the possibility of sending military personnel to conduct additional search missions in the DPRK.
"That is certainly under consideration. Absolutely," he said.
US Secretary of Defense James Mattis (L) is greeted by the Republic of Korea's Defense Minister Song Young-moo (2nd L) upon his arrival at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, June 28, 2018. /VCG Photo
US Secretary of Defense James Mattis (L) is greeted by the Republic of Korea's Defense Minister Song Young-moo (2nd L) upon his arrival at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, June 28, 2018. /VCG Photo
Earlier on Thursday, the White House said a military aircraft carrying the remains of some US soldiers had left the DPRK and was transferring the remains to the US Osan Air Base in the Republic of Korea (ROK), where a formal repatriation ceremony is scheduled for August 1.
Mattis said the move is a "coordination effort" over the past month.
"Clearly what we have here is something that has been frozen for – for years now, and so that's warmed up," he said, noting that returning the remains was agreed upon by President Donald Trump and the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un at their Singapore summit on June 12.
The C-17 Globemaster, a US Air Force transport aircraft, arrives at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, the Republic of Korea, July 27, 2018. /VCG Photo
The C-17 Globemaster, a US Air Force transport aircraft, arrives at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, about 70 kilometers south of Seoul, the Republic of Korea, July 27, 2018. /VCG Photo
"When you have that sort of communication going on, it sets a positive environment, a positive tone for other things, more important things in terms of international diplomacy," he added.
US Vice President Mike Pence said earlier that he would travel to Hawaii to receive the remains.
(Cover: US Secretary of Defense James Mattis speaking with Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Song Young-moo at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Shangri-La, Singapore, June 2, 2018. /VCG Photo)
Source(s): Xinhua News Agency