U.S. prepares proposal to resume joint recovery of Korean War remains with North Korea

The United States is preparing to revive a program that once sent American and North Korean teams into North Korea to search for the remains of U.S. service members killed in the Korean War.

Kelly McKeague, director of the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, said he had presented the White House with options for returning remains held by North Korea and restarting joint recovery work halted in 2005. He spoke during an online event hosted by the National Committee on North Korea.

McKeague said the proposal could be pursued if talks between the U.S. and North Korean leaders resume. The plan draws on the method used during earlier operations and includes a detailed proposal for returning to field work.

Under the plan, two excavation teams would work in Unsan, North Pyongan Province, and Changjin, South Hamgyong Province. Each team would conduct four operations a year, with each operation lasting 45 days. The two countries carried out 37 joint recovery operations in North Korea between 1996 and 2005. “North Korea is also familiar with the approach. We have proposed to the White House a plan to deploy two excavation teams to Unsan in North Pyongan Province and Changjin in South Hamgyong Province, operating four times a year for 45 days at a time. We are ready,” McKeague said.

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North Korea is also familiar with the approach. We have proposed to the White House a plan to deploy two excavation teams to Unsan in North Pyongan Province and Changjin in South Hamgyong Province, operating four times a year for 45 days at a time. We are ready.