South Korea, US launch monthlong survey to recover Korean War remains

SEOUL, April 6 (AJP) - South Korea has begun a joint excavation with the U.S. to recover the remains of personnel from military aircraft that crashed in the East Sea during the 1950–53 Korean War, the Ministry of Defense said Monday.

The monthlong survey, which runs until May 1, is taking place near Gangneung and Yangyang in Gangwon Province as a preliminary step ahead of a joint underwater project planned for August.

During the survey, officials from both countries will also inspect facilities and gather information through on-site interviews with local residents.

One of the survey's main goals is to recover remains and belongings from a military transport plane that crashed in 1952 due to an engine malfunction en route from Gangneung to Pohang, which left nine missing including one South Korean soldier.

The U.S. and South Korea have regularly conducted joint excavations to locate missing American soldiers from the war. Of the more than 1.7 million U.S. troops who served, over 36,000 were killed, and nearly 7,400 remain unaccounted for, according to the U.S.' Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).

"Expanding joint surveys reflect growing bilateral cooperation between the two countries," said Kim Seong-hwan, acting head of the ministry's department in charge of remains recovery.

Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.