White House says North Korea returns remains of US war dead, fulfilling deal struck by Trump and Kim
Friday’s handover will be followed by a lengthy series of forensic examinations and tests to determine if the remains are human, and whether they are actually American or allied troops killed in the conflict
A US military aircraft flew the remains of American servicemen out of North Korea on Friday, a move hailed by the White House as a “positive” step for the fragile detente between the two rivals.
The return of the remains – on the 65th anniversary of the end of the Koran War – marks the partial fulfilment of an agreement reached between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at their historic summit in Singapore last month.
“After so many years, this will be a great moment for so many families. Thank you to Kim Jong-un,” Trump said in a tweet.
The White House said it was “encouraged” by the return of the remains and the “momentum for positive change”.
“Today’s actions represent a significant first step to recommence the repatriation of remains from North Korea and to resume field operations in North Korea to search for the estimated 5,300 Americans who have not yet returned home,” it said.
After leaving the North Korean port city of Wonsan, the C-17 cargo plane landed at the Osan US Air Base in South Korea, where live television images showed American soldiers lined up for a ceremony.
The United Nations Command (UNC) in South Korea said 55 sets of remains were on board the plane.
