Return Of Korean MIA Remains Begins

United Press International
April 13, 2004,


WASHINGTON - U.S. and North Korean specialists began preliminary work Monday in North Korea to recover the remains of Americans missing in action from the Korean War. For the first time since these operations started in 1996, supplies and equipment were transported across the demilitarized zone to U.S. recovery teams, the U.S. Department of Defense said. Also for the first time since 1999, U.S. remains, accompanied by recovery team members, will be returned across the demilitarized zone. U.S. and North Korean negotiators last year agreed to five operations for 2004 in Unsan County and near the Chosin Reservoir, both sites of major battles and heavy losses of U.S. servicemen. Twenty-eight U.S. team members will join with their North Korean counterparts for each of these 30-day operations. The project marks the ninth consecutive year that U.S. teams have operated inside North Korea, bringing home some remains of the more than 8,100 soldiers missing in action from the war. More than 88,000 Americans are still listed as missing in action from World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War and Desert Storm. Sound Off...What do you think? Join the discussion.