United States Department of Defense

REMAINS RECOVERED IN NORTH KOREA

The Department of Defense announced today that skeletal remains believed to be those of an American soldier lost during the Korean War have been recovered in North Korea. The remains were excavated earlier this week by a U. S.- North Korean team which has been conducting a joint excavation about 100 kilometers north of Pyongyang since July 10.

The U. S. team from the U. S. Army Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii (CILHI), had been conducting an investigation near the suspected site of the crash of an Air Force F-80. During interviews with local villagers and officials, the U. S. team learned of another site where it was believed an American might be buried. The remains were excavated, along with other evidence which suggests the site was a foxhole burial. There was no name-specific information found at this site.

The remains are scheduled to be returned to American control in a repatriation ceremony on Monday at Panmunjom. They will be taken to the CILHI where forensic processes will seek to establish the identification of the American.

In an agreement signed by the U. S. and North Korea in May, both sides agreed that another joint recovery operation will be conducted in September.