South Korea, US launch joint operation to recover Korean War missing troops
South Korea and the US have launched a joint operation to recover the remains of American troops missing since the 1950-53 Korean War, Yonhap News Agency reported. The month-long mission will continue through June 26 across six locations, including areas where fierce fighting took place during a Chinese offensive in 1951.
South Korea and the US have launched a joint operation to recover the remains of American troops missing since the 1950-53 Korean War, Yonhap News Agency reported Tuesday citing Seoul's Defense Ministry. The month-long mission, led by South Korea's Agency for KIA Recovery and Identification and the US Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, will continue through June 26 across six locations nationwide.
Search areas
Search teams will investigate areas including Hongcheon County and Yangpyeong County, where fierce fighting involving US 2nd Infantry Division troops took place during a Chinese offensive in 1951. Other search sites were selected after local residents reported possible burial locations of fallen American soldiers.
Future plans
Officials said the operation is intended to identify potential recovery zones ahead of larger excavation efforts planned by the allies later this year. South Korea and the United States are also preparing a joint underwater recovery mission scheduled for August.
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Korean War context
The Korean War lasted from 1950 to 1953, leaving more than 7,800 American soldiers unaccounted for. The joint recovery efforts are part of ongoing commitments to return fallen soldiers to their families.
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