This morning the U.S. air force plane with the remains of American soldiers who participated in the Korean war, arrived at Osan air base in South Korea.
Exactly 65 years ago on July 27 1953, the North and South signed an armistice. (But not about ending the war. Technically it continues to this day.) In a sign of de-escalation of relations between the U.S. and the DPRK decided to choose this date for the official handing over to the home of the unidentified remains of American soldiers killed in the 1950-53 conflict.
Donald trump called this event «a great moment for so many families» and thanked the North Korean leader , Kim Jong-UN.
The Remains of American Servicemen will soon be leaving Korea and heading North to the United States! After so many years, this will be a great moment for so many families. Thank you to Kim Jong Un.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 27, 2018
«It was a successful mission that followed large-scale cooperation, — said the commander of U.S. forces in South Korea General Vincent K. Brooks. — Now we prepare to honor the fallen before they continue the way home.»
South Korea also welcomed the return of the remains, calling it «a tangible progress that can foster trust» between Pyongyang and Washington.
The White house announced that the official repatriation ceremony will be held on Wednesday, August 1, in Osan. Then the remains will be sent to a military laboratory for the US in Hawaii for the Agency’s accounting of prisoners of war and missing persons (U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency DPAA) DNA.
Trump thanks Kim as North Korea transfers remains of Korean War soldiers https://t.co/ZlIQWVUem0 pic.twitter.com/0SA35NJS7S
— Reuters U.S. News (@ReutersUS) July 27, 2018
During the Korean war killed tens of thousands of Americans, more than 600 thousand, 600 thousand Korean soldiers and more than a million of ordinary Koreans. About 7.7 thousand U.S. servicemen still unaccounted — 5.3 thousand of them were killed on the territory of North Korea. Since 1990, Korea repatriated the remains of 340 Americans.
Today’s event is primarily to fulfill one of the clauses of the agreement, which was signed by trump and Kim during a historic summit in Singapore.
