U.S. pays N.K. expenses for excavating GI remains

The United States held a meeting with North Korea in the conference room of the Military Armistice Commission (MAC) and paid $2.25 million to the North Korean side in expenses for the North`s excavation of the remains of American soldiers who died during the Korean War (1950-1953), it was disclosed Thursday.

A related official of the United Nations Command said that the North and the U. S. convened a working-level meeting in the MAC conference room on Apr. 11 and the U.S. side gave $2.25 million out of the North`s excavation costs of $4.43 million.

The official added that the two sides agreed that the remaining excavation cost would be delivered to the North in the fall, when they will hold another round of working-level meetings. The two sides also came close to an agreement on the contentious excavation of the GI remains presumed to be buried near Jangjin-ho Lake in South Hangyong Province, a major stumbling block in the past bilateral negotiations on the excavation question.

Lee Chol-Hi klimt@donga.com