Remains of U.S. soldiers returning from North Korea

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

Nineteen sets of remains believed to be those of American soldiers missing from the Korean War will be returned across the demilitarized zone from North Korea and returned to U.S. control on Thursday at Yongsan Military Compound in Seoul.

Seven sets of remains were recovered in Unsan County, about 60 miles north of Pyongyang, the site of battles between communist forces and the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry Division and Hawai'i-based 25th Infantry Division in November of 1950.

A joint team working near the Chosin Reservoir recovered the other 12 sets of remains, believed to those of soldiers from the 7th Infantry Division.

The 28-person team consisted primarily of specialists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command based at Hickam Air Force Base. The remains will be flown to Hawai'i for forensic identification.

The remains are being returned overland across the demilitarized zone for the first time since 1999. The recovery is the result of negotiations with North Korea led by the Defense Department's POW/Missing Personnel Office.

Since 1996, 28 joint operations have been conducted in North Korea, resulting in the recovery of more than 200 sets of remains believed to be those of U.S. soldiers.

More than 8,100 service members remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. From 1954 to 1990 the United States sought unsuccessfully to account for Americans missing in North Korea. Between 1990 and 1994, North Korea excavated and returned more than 200 sets of remains.

Reach William Cole at 525-5459 or at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.