News-Info-Alerts

Re: North Korea - Remains Found at Chosin and Unsan

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: September 25, 2003

"Remains of four US troops believed found in North Korea

25.09.2003 10.24 am

Remains believed to be those of four American soldiers missing since the 1950-53 Korean War have been found by joint search teams in North Korea, the US Defence Department said on Wednesday.

The remains were found in recent searches under an agreement negotiated between Washington and Pyongyang and will be repatriated on October 28 for conclusive identification by US forensic experts in Hawaii, the Pentagon said.

The remains of two bodies were found near the Chosin Reservoir and are believed to be those of US Army soldiers from the 7th Infantry Division who fought against Chinese forces in November and December of 1950.

A second search team recovered remains of two others in Unsan County about 97km north of Pyongyang. The area was the site of battles between communist forces and the US Army's 1st Cavalry and 25th Infantry Divisions in November of 1950.

Since 1996, 26 joint search operations have been conducted in North Korea during which remains believed to be of 182 US soldiers have been recovered.

More than 8100 American troops remain missing from the 1950-53 Korean War.

The United States and North Korea are at odds over Pyongyang's ongoing nuclear programme and the Pentagon's POW-MIA office stressed that the recovery searches were a "stand-alone humanitarian matter" not tied to any other issues or negotiations between the two countries.

- REUTERS

©2003, New Zealand Herald "