INFORMATION PAPER
21 April 2008
Subject: Joint POW/MIA Accounting CommandÕs Korean War Accounting Activities
1. Purpose: Provide information on historical and ongoing accounting efforts associated with the Korean War
2. Main Points:
•Increased operations in South Korea
•Korean War identifications are increasing each year
•Expanding labratory floor space to meet mission demands
•Consistent investigation process
3. Operations:
•South Korea:
- 18 JFAÕs conducted to date; increased JFAÕs over the past three years
- Fiscal Year 2008
- - 2 Investigation Missions
- - 1 Recovery Mission
- - 1 Underwater Investigation/Recovery Mission
- Fiscal Year 2009 // Tentative
- - 5 Investigation Missions
- - 2 Recovery Missions
- Four sites currently on the excavation list
•North Korea:
- 33 Joint Field Activities (JFAÕs) to date
- Operations remain suspended; however, we are prepared to resume operations when directed
4. Identifications:
•101 individuals identified since 1982
•ÒK-208Ó: 208 boxes of remains unilaterally turned over by North Korea between 1990 and 1993
- Estimated there are over 400 individuals represented in these boxes
- 22 of the 100 individuals identified are from the K-208
•North Korea JFAÕs
- Analysis indicates JPAC has recovered more than 200 individuals
- 63 of the 100 individuals identified from these recoveries
5. Punchbowl DisintermentÕs:
•10 disinterments, 6 of the 101 individuals identified are from this group of previously Unknown Korean War dead
•Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory is unable to obtain a useable mitochondrial DNA sequence to aid in the identification of these remains
6. Central Identification Laboratory (CIL):
•Extension of lab floor space is expected to be completed in the fall of 2008 and will add 2,000 sq ft for approximately 20 additional examination tables
•Building 220 (Pearl Harbor) renovations expected to be completed in the fall of 2008, will provide additional space for forensic analysis, material evidence and life support analysis, and a classroom
•To increase amount of time spent performing skeletal analysis, JPAC Commander has authorized overtime pay in lieu of compensation time for CIL staff
7. Consistent Investigation Process:
•Case development and investigation is accomplished from the headquarters in Hawaii for all conflicts; there are no permanent investigation teams assigned to any country, including Southeast Asia and South Korea.
•Year-round investigations or recovery operations in South Korea is impractical due to the many months each year of uncooperative weather such as severe winters and heavy summer monsoons.
•Personnel permanently assigned to Detachments in Southeast Asia include contract specialists, linguists, logisticians, and administrative personnel who facilitate the work of field teams deployed from Hawaii throughout the region. Detachment 1 supports operations associated with all conflicts.