Trump thanks Kim over US war remains

Expert: Washington and Pyongyang should cherish positive momentum

The handover of the remains of US soldiers from the 1950-53 Korean War by Pyongyang is a concrete step toward the pursuit of peace and shows its commitment to the agreement reached at the US-DPRK summit, a Chinese expert said.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday thanked Kim Jong-un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, for sending the remains back and said he looked forward to meeting Kim soon.

"Thank you to Chairman Kim Jong-un for keeping your word & starting the process of sending home the remains of our great and beloved missing fallen! I am not at all surprised that you took this kind action," Trump said on Twitter.

"Also, thank you for your nice letter - I look forward to seeing you soon!", Trump added without elaborating.

The pledge to return the remains of US war dead was made during the landmark summit between Kim and Trump in June in Singapore, where they committed to work toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Lyu Chao, director of the Border Study Institute at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, said the act exemplifies the tradition of being buried in one's homeland after death. More than that, the positive move demonstrates Pyongyang's commitment to maintain peace and improve its relations with Washington.

Lyu said the current positive momentum should be cherished as it is not just conducive to both countries and people but also favorable to the overall peace and stability in Northeast Asia.

"I believe that the United States should also make some pragmatic actions to fulfill the promise," Lyu said.

He also noted that the DPRK has halted nuclear and missile tests, shut down its nuclear testing site and began dismantling facilities at its rocket launch site.

But no more substantive actions by the US have been seen except the suspension of the annual military drill with the Republic of Korea, Lyu said, adding that it shows Washington still lacks the sincerity in negotiating with Pyongyang, which may damage the hardwon progress on the peninsula.

Somber ceremony

The Pentagon said earlier on Wednesday that the remains returned by the DPRK are "believed to be" those of US service members from the Korean War.

On the same day, an "honorable carry ceremony" was held in Hawaii, attended by US Vice-President Mike Pence and several military families, to receive the 55 boxes containing the remains.

"I know that President Trump is grateful that Chairman Kim has kept his word, and we see today this tangible progress in our efforts to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula," said Pence, whose father fought in the war.

According to The Associated Press, the US Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency will take the remains to a lab on the base where forensic anthropologists will study bones and teeth to identify their race, gender and age.

Scientists will extract DNA and compare it to samples collected from families of troops still missing from the war.

It could take months or years to determine the soldiers' identities.

Reuters contributed to this story.

panmengqi@chinadaily.com.cn