SOUTH KOREA: South Korea repatriates remains of Chinese soldiers

Record ID: 232927

  • Title: SOUTH KOREA: South Korea repatriates remains of Chinese soldiers
  • Date: 28th March 2014
  • Summary: INCHEON, SOUTH KOREA (MARCH 28, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF KOREAN AND CHINESE HONOUR GUARDS HANDING OVER CASKETS VARIOUS OF CHINESE HONOUR GUARDS PLACING COFFINS ON TABLE AND COVERING CASKETS WITH THE CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG CHINESE AND KOREAN OFFICIALS WATCHING CEREMONY CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO SOUTH KOREA QIU GUOHONG COVERING CASKET WITH CHINESE FLAG CHINESE HONOUR GUARDS ST
  • Embargoed: 12th April 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Korea, Republic of
  • Country: South Korea
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4N8N1YM7D3IYCB82P0ZL41EZX
  • Story Text: South Korea held a handover ceremony on Friday (March 28) at the Incheon International Airport, returning the remains of 437 Chinese soldiers, killed during the 1950-53 Korean War, to China.
    South Korean honour guards handed over coffins to Chinese side at the ceremony as officials from China and South Korea watched the ceremony.
    A Chinese official conveyed the gratitude to South Korean authorities as South Korea expressed its hope to develop relationship between both countries.
    "We were able to finish all preparations and carry out the handover in a relatively short period of time by reaching a consensus through friendly negotiations. We would like to express our gratitude to Korea for their proactive efforts and friendly sincerity," said Chinese official from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Zhou Ming.
    "The repatriation of Chinese soldiers' remains would be a milestone reflecting on the past of South Korea and China and leading both countries to a river of co-prosperity," said South Korean Vice Defence Minister, Baek Seung-joo.
    After the Korean War, the remains were buried at a burial ground in Paju. The military said they dug up the remains of the Chinese soldiers in December 2013 and identified them between January and February this year.
    Seoul's Yonhap news agency said the first such repatriation comes after South Korean President Park Geun-hye in December offered to return the remains of the fallen soldiers who fought on the side of North Korea in a symbolic gesture of friendship, which was welcomed by Beijing.
    The Korean War started on June 25, 1950, when Communist North Korean troops launched a surprise attack across the 38th parallel into South Korea.
    U.S.-led United Nations forces battled Chinese- and Soviet-backed North Korea. Three million soldiers and civilians were killed and five million became refugees.
    North and South Korea technically are still at war since the conflict ended in a truce without a peace treaty.
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