Washington: A senior U.S. official has intensified calls for North Korea to treat the recovery of American troops' remains from the 1950-53 Korean War as a separate issue from politics, amid Pyongyang's refusal to engage in dialogue over its denuclearization.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kelly McKeague, the director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), emphasized the mission as a "humanitarian" effort during a press event. He highlighted the frustration felt by families of missing troops who are eager for their loved ones' return.
The press event was held ahead of the DPAA's annual two-day gathering, where more than 400 family members of the missing, mostly from the Korean War, will learn about the agency's global mission to identify and recover the missing.
McKeague stated that President Trump is open to meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but noted that Kim's sister has made it clear that discussions on denuclearization must be off the table for any meeting to occur. "We've always advocated for separating the two," McKeague told reporters.
In a recent statement, Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un's sister, reiterated North Korea's stance against dialogue on denuclearization, though she acknowledged the personal rapport between Trump and Kim.
A White House official earlier conveyed to Yonhap News Agency that Trump is open to dialogue with Kim to achieve a "fully denuclearized" North Korea, but certain conditions, including the recovery mission, must be discussed.
McKeague argued that the recovery mission could build goodwill and encourage North Korea to engage with the international community, pointing out that North Korea is unique in its reluctance to participate in such humanitarian efforts.
The DPAA has been eager to resume excavation in North Korea, where the remains of approximately 5,300 U.S. troops are believed to be. Joint recovery efforts were conducted from 1996 to 2005, with only two unilateral returns of remains since then, facilitated by former Governor Bill Richardson in 2007 and by Trump in 2018.
There is cautious optimism for renewed recovery efforts, as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's administration has expressed interest in inter-Korean reconciliation, and Trump has shown willingness to restart diplomatic efforts with Kim.
McKeague expressed hope that the current U.S. administration's openness to dialogue with North Korea could serve as a catalyst for the recovery mission.
At the annual event, the DPAA aims to reinforce its commitment to never forgetting American battle losses and its ongoing efforts to recover them. McKeague noted that "time does not heal" for the families and emphasized the agency's dedication to closing the void in their hearts.