The precise number and the identities — including whether they are U. S. or allied service members — won’t be known until the remains are tested
The American military command in South Korea is preparing for the North Koreans to turn over the remains of an unknown number of U. S. or allied service members who have been missing since the Korean War, U. S. officials said Tuesday.
Officials say the timing of a ceremony is uncertain, but could be very soon. The officials weren’t authorized to discuss the preparations before an official announcement so spoke on condition of anonymity.
The remains are believed to be some or all of the more than 200 that the North Koreans have had for some time. But the precise number and the identities — including whether they are U. S. or allied service members — won’t be known until the remains are tested.
President Donald Trump raised the likelihood of the repatriation of remains last week after his summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. At the time, Trump said, “We’re getting the remains, and nobody thought that was possible.”
The Defense Department, State Department and White House declined to discuss the latest development. The Pentagon would only say that an interagency effort is under way and that Trump’s agreement with Kim last week cleared the way for the planning for the return of remains.
