US hopes for return of 50 Korean War soldiers' remains

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The United States hopes the Democratic Republic of Korea (DPRK) will return the remains of about 50 American Korean War dead within two weeks, the first of thousands President Donald Trump says Pyongyang has promised to hand over, a senior US defense official said on Tuesday.

However, the timing of the handover and the number of sets remains to be returned is still uncertain, in spite of two days of talks between US and DPRK officials on Sunday and Monday, said the official, who did not want to be identified.

DPRK leader Kim Jung Un visits the 801 military unit affiliated fish farm in this undated photo released by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang July 17, 2018. /VCG Photo

President Donald Trump announced after an unprecedented June 12 summit with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un aimed at persuading the DPRK to give up its nuclear weapons that Kim had agreed to return the remains of “thousands and thousands” of Americans killed in the 1950-53 Korean War.

Trump subsequently said the remains of 200 American servicemen had already been sent back, but so far none have been handed over.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo unveiled the plan for talks on the remains issue after visiting Pyongyang this month to press the DPRK to agree to a specific timeline for giving up its nuclear weapons.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, July 13, 2018 after his Asia visits. /VCG Photo

He touted it as one of the key issues on which the two sides had made progress, though the DPRK accused his delegation of making “gangster-like” demands in connection with denuclearization during the trip, adding to doubts about Pyongyang’s intentions.

According to media of the Republic of Korea (ROK), US forces brought about 100 wooden coffins into the Demilitarized Zone between the DPRK and ROK last month to prepare for the handover of remains.

The Pentagon declined official comment but said the talks on Monday were to “continue coordination on the transfer of remains already collected in the (DPRK) and the recommencing of field operations in the (DPRK).”

Jonathan Powell, a British former diplomat and chief of staff who now works for a charity, meets with Ri Su Yong, a member of the DPRK's Political Bureau, in this undated photo released by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on July 15, 2018. /VCG Photo

About 7,700 U.S. military personnel remain unaccounted for from the Korean War.

The United States conducted joint operations with the DPRK in the country to recover remains from 1996 to 2005, but the program was halted amid rising tensions over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile programs.

(A US army's vehicle carrying the flag of the United Nations crosses the Tongil bridge near the borderline in Paju, ROK, July 15, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Reuters