Remains believed to be those of a U.S. soldier missing in action from the Korean War have been recovered by a U.S. team, and returned overland from North Korea across the demilitarized zone, as was done in late May for the first recovery operation of 2004, and were repatriated at Yongsan military compound in Seoul on July 1.
A joint team operating near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea recovered the remains, believed to be those of a U.S. Army soldier from the 7th Infantry Division who fought against Chinese forces in November or December of 1950. Approximately 1,000 Americans are estimated to have been lost in battles of the Chosin campaign.
The 28-person U.S. recovery team was composed of specialists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, where the remains were flown to begin the forensic identification process.
Since 1996, 29 joint operations have been conducted in North Korea, in which remains believed to be those of more than 200 U.S. soldiers have been recovered. Of the 88,000 U.S. service members missing in action from all conflicts, more than 8,100 are from the Korean War.