From DPMO ::
Defense POW/MIA Weekly Update
August 13, 1997
REMAINS RECOVERED IN NORTH KOREA
Skeletal remains believed to be those of four American soldiers lost during the Korean War have been recovered in Unsan County, North Korea. The remains were excavated during the 20-day field operation by a joint U.S.-North Korean team which has been conducting joint excavations in the northwestern part of North Korea, about 30 miles southwest of the Yalu River.
The U.S. team from the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI) and Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office had been conducting excavations in an area where several hundred Americans are known to have been lost in fierce combat between U.S. and Chinese forces.
The remains were returned to American control in a repatriation ceremony on Monday, August 4, at Panmunjom, Korea. They were taken to the CILHI where forensic processes will seek to establish the identifications of the Americans.
This is the second time U.S. specialists from the Defense Department's POW/Missing Personnel Office and CILHI have entered North Korea. In July 1996, a similar joint team located the remains of an American soldier, also in Unsan County. These remains were subsequently identified and returned to his family for burial with full military honors.
In an agreement signed by the U.S. and North Korea in June, both sides agreed that further joint recovery operations will be conducted in September and October.
U.S. ARCHIVAL TEAM REVIEWS RECORDS IN PYONGYANG
A team of five U.S. archivists has completed a week-long review of exhibits and records at the Pyongyang Fatherland Liberation War Museum. The team was able to work unimpeded in the museum and spent much time explaining to the North Koreans the importance of archival research as a foundation of the Department of Defense's efforts to achieve the fullest possible accounting for missing Americans. The North Koreans were very cooperative and many items of interest were reviewed. Further information will be provided in a subsequent update.
Published by the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing Personnel Office
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense/International Security Affairs
Washington, D.C. 20301-2400
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