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Koreas in talks for joint exhumation of war remains

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By Kim Yoo-chul

Seoul is discussing with Pyongyang to confirm the sites for joint exhumations of the remains of soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War within the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and places near it, a defense official here said, Monday.

"The defense ministry handed over a list of candidate sites within and near the DMZ for the joint search for war remains to the North's delegation during generals' talks last month. The North accepted the list. We are working on it," the official said.

The sites for the joint exhumations are Paju, Cheorwon, Yeoncheon, Yanggu and Goseong, according to the official, adding there would be a series of follow-up meetings on the issue. These five cities and counties suffered some of the fiercest battles during the Korean War, and the remains of many South Korean soldiers are believed to be buried there.

The official said the date and locations have not been finalized, but he said the defense ministry is ready to begin the process if the North decides to move quickly.

The two Koreas may designate one site to carry out the retrieval project on a "trial basis." The DMZ and adjacent land in North Korea are said to have the remains of as many as 40,000 South Korean soldiers.

The agreement by the two Koreas to begin joint activities to search for the remains of troops missing from the Korean War was in accordance with President Moon's ongoing drive to cut military tension in the DMZ.

During the military talks between the two Koreas, they agreed to test withdrawing troops from guard posts operated by each in the DMZ. They still have differences in other key issues such as removing arms from the DMZ and establishing joint fishing areas at the disputed sea border off their western coasts.



Kim Yoo-chul yckim@koreatimes.co.kr


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