After a missed meeting, North Korean and U. S. representatives met to discuss the return of the remains of U. S. soldiers.
North Korea and the United States held a general-level meeting at Panmunjom on July 15 to discuss sending back the remains of U. S. soldiers killed in the Korean War.
According to the South Korean government and multiple sources from U. S. Forces Korea (USFK), North Korea and the United States met at Tongilgak on the northside of Panmunjom at around 10 a.m. for approximately two hours. Likely discussion topics include the timeframe, number, and method of transporting the remains.
Specific details on the result of the meeting are yet to be disclosed. Sources say that North Korea and the United States may hold working group meetings as a follow-up to the July 15 meeting.
Major General Michael Minihan, chief of staff for the United Nations Command, reportedly participated in the meeting as the U. S. representative. His North Korean counterpart is known to be a lieutenant general, equivalent to a U. S. major general, from the Korean People’s Army.
Three USFK vehicles escorting U. S. representatives arrived at the southern end of the Tongil-Daegyo bridge at approximately 8:30 a.m., placing a UN flag before heading in toward Panmunjom.
The general-level meeting between the United Nations Command and North Korea was the first of its kind since March 2009.
