South Korea, U.S. Launch Joint Underwater Search for Remains of U.S. Fighter Jet That Crashed During Korean War in Gangneung and Yangyang

▲ Remains excavation site at Baengmagoji within the Demilitarized Zone

The defense authorities of South Korea and the United States are launching a joint underwater search to find the wreckage of a U.S. fighter jet and transport aircraft that crashed during the Korean War.

The joint underwater search, conducted by the Ministry of National Defense Agency for KIA Recovery and Identification (MAKRI) and the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), runs from today until the 25th in Gangneung and Yangyang, Gangwon Province.

The search team consists of about 40 members. On the U.S. side, about 10 U.S. Navy professional divers and mechanics are participating alongside underwater planners and underwater archaeologists to conduct the underwater search.

The underwater search will be carried out in a two-stage operation.

In the first stage, underwater detection equipment and marine unmanned systems will be used to survey the target waters. Once suspicious objects or wreckage are identified, divers and remote sensing equipment will be deployed in the second stage to verify them.

The underwater search will also involve a harbor defense boat from the ROK Navy's 1st Fleet and combat rubber raiding crafts owned by the DPAA.

U.S. DPAA Army Sergeant First Class David Craig said, "When we visited South Korea last April, we completed preparations including preliminary surveys of the target waters for the underwater search." He added, "Through this underwater search, we will surely find the wreckage of the fighter jet and transport aircraft."

Jeon Byeong-hee, head of MAKRI, said, "We hope that this joint underwater search will further strengthen cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. in the recovery of remains." He added, "As this is a project prepared over a long period, we expect good results."

(Photo provided by the Ministry of National Defense, Yonhap News)

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