President Donald Trump on Friday thanked North Korea for transferring 55 small, flag-draped cases carrying the suspected remains of US soldiers killed in the Korean War on Friday.
The repatriation of the remains missing in the 1950 to 1953 conflict is seen as a modest diplomatic
coup for President Trump as it was one of the agreements reached during his meeting with North Korean
leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore aimed primarily at securing the denuclearization of the North.
“After so many years, this will be a great moment for so many families. Thank you to Kim Jong Un,”
Trump wrote on Twitter.
A White House statement earlier said: “We are encouraged by North Korea’s actions and the momentum for
positive change.”
The White House in a statement said a U.S. military transport plane flew to an airfield in North Korea’s
northeastern city of Wonsan to bring the remains to Osan air base in South Korea.
Soldiers in dress uniforms with white gloves were seen slowly carrying 55 small cases covered with the
blue-and-white U.N. insignia, placing them one by one into silver vans waiting on the tarmac in Osan.
Straight-backed officers looked on next to the flags of the United States, South Korea and the UN.
A formal repatriation ceremony would be held at Osan on Wednesday, the White House said.
(Reuters/NAN)
