North Korea Agreed to Resume Repatriation of the Remains of American Soldiers

The U.S. Ministry of National Defense announced on February 12 that North Korea, for the first time in five years, agreed to resume the repatriation of the remains of American soldiers. North Korea also assented to the suggestion of the U.S. regarding nomination of the public official, who would take charge of report about the conditions and circumstances of Americans in North Korea.

During the talks in Bangkok on February 11, negotiations with North Korea were successful. Jerry Jennings, deputy assistant defense secretary in charge of war prisoners and missing people, said in a statement, “The U.S. government doesn’t need to bear the extra expense of digging up the remains of the dead.”

Jennings also said, “In the case of excavators, formalities for North Korea entry and departure will be simplified.” According to this agreement, remains of American soldiers will be sent back through Panmunjom. American excavators can go with the remains and excavation equipage will also be taken in North Korea by an overland route through the demilitarized zone.

Excavation of the remains of American soldiers will be resumed at Unsan, about 100km north of Pyongyang, and at Jangjinho, Hamkyungnamdo.

More than 180 remains of American soldiers have been excavated since 1996. It is assumed that more than 8,100 remains are still in North Korea.

maypole@donga.com