The United States announced that it has identified the remains of 112 American soldiers so far from the boxes of remains repatriated by North Korea in 2018.
Voice of America (VOA) reported today that the U.S. Department of Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) made this announcement during the annual government briefing for families of missing service members from the Korean War and the Cold War, held in Omaha, Nebraska, for two days starting on the 6th local time.
DPAA Director Kelly McKeague stated at the event that the identities of 112 U.S. service members were confirmed from the 55 boxes of remains handed over by North Korea following the 2018 North Korea-U.S. summit in Singapore.
He explained that 90 sets of remains recovered from the boxes were handed over to the South Korean side.
Director McKeague also stated that the agency is pushing to resume the excavation of remains in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
He noted that related investigations began upon returning to the DMZ this spring, and plans are underway to resume not only investigations but also actual excavation and recovery operations through consultations with South Korea and the United Nations Command.
Later this month, an underwater investigation team will be dispatched off the coast of Busan to search for the wreckage of an Air Force aircraft, supported by South Korean Navy ships and diving equipment.
Director McKeague mentioned that "the last face-to-face contact with the North Korean military was in March 2019," noting that cooperation with North Korea has been cut off.
He criticized this, saying, "The U.S. government has attempted communication at all levels, but for more than the past 7 years, all requests have been met with total silence," calling it "a crime and irresponsible."
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