By: Robin Piacine

Negotiations regarding recovery operations for 2004 recently took place in Bangkok, Thailand. There were several areas of change regarding procedures in the excavating and repatriation of remains of American soldiers from the Korean War.

According to a news release from the United States Department of Defense, February 12, 2004, the talks included the agreement to "resume repatriating the remains recovered during joint recovery operation in North Korea across the demilitarized zone at Panmunjom." Apparently, this is a practice that ended in 1999 and is encouraging according to Jerry D. Jennings, deputy assistant secretary of defense for DPMO. For the first time the North Korean side is considering a proposal to having a point of contact to address the reports of living Americans in North Korea.

As reported in our last issue, five recovery operations are expected to take place in the year 2004 along with unilateral and joint investigations that will take place prior to the excavations. The areas of operations will be near the Chosin Reservoir in northeast North Korea, Unsan County, and 60 miles north of Pyongyang. The operations will begin in April and end in October of 2004.