N. Korea, U.S. to resume talks on repatriating remains

North Korea and the United States will start negotiations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Dec. 13 on the resumption of efforts to excavate the remains of American servicemen killed in action (KIA) during the Korean War, Pentagon officials said Wednesday.

The talks will discuss the frequency, location and duration of excavations and the amount of financial aid for the work of finding and unearthing the remains in North Korea.

Bilateral negotiations broke down last year after Pyongyang demanded the American side to finance the construction of factories for children`s clothing and footwear. The talks finally got underway when the North Koreans dropped the demand.

Excavations were conducted five times in the area of the Chongchon River, with workers successfully excavating the remains of 65 American soldiers.

Washington expects successful negotiations to pave the way for further excavation activities in the Changjin Lake area, which is thought to contain the remains of some 1,000 U.S. soldiers.