Remains of American MIAs Found in North Korea

A "Good News" story out of Korea. The remains of American MIA from 1950 have been recovered in North Korea. By the end of this week, they will be repatriated.

Release #: 506-05
May 24, 2005

Remains of American MIAS Found in North Korea

Specialists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) have recovered remains believed to be those of American soldiers missing in action from the Korean War. The remains will be repatriated to U.S. control at Yongsan Military Compound in Seoul on May 26.

From Seoul, the remains will be flown to Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, where the forensic identification process will take place in the JPAC laboratory to determine the precise number of recovered American soldiers. This is the first repatriation of remains from this year's recovery operations in North Korea, and marks the beginning of the 10th consecutive year for the mission there.

Since 1996, 33 joint operations have been conducted in North Korea, during which remains believed to be those of more than 220 soldiers have been recovered. Of the 88,000 U.S. servicemembers missing in action from all conflicts, more than 8,100 are from the Korean War.

The JPAC specialists' consisted of a 27-man U.S. element divided into two recovery teams. The first team operated near the Chosin Reservoir where the 1st Marine Division and the Army's 7th Infantry Division fought Chinese forces November-December 1950. Approximately 1,000 Americans are missing in action from battles of the Chosin campaign.

The second team recovered remains in Unsan County about 60 miles north of Pyongyang. This area was the site of battles between communist forces and the U.S. Army's 1st Cavalry and 25th Infantry divisions in November 1950.

The joint remains recovery work resulted from negotiations with North Korea led by the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office.

For additional information about POW/MIA recoveries, visit http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call the Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office at (703) 699-1169.