U.S.-N. Korea working-level talks on transfer of war remains to begin Monday

WASHINGTON, July 15 (Yonhap) -- Working-level talks between the United States and North Korea will begin Monday to coordinate the next steps in repatriating the remains of American soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.

The two countries held talks at the general officer level Sunday after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged to return the remains during his historic summit with U.S. President Donald Trump last month.

"On Sunday, July 15, representatives from the United States held the first General Officer-level talks with the DPRK since 2009," Pompeo said in a statement Sunday, using the acronym for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "Todays talks were productive and cooperative and resulted in firm commitments."

On Monday, the two sides will begin working-level meetings "to ‎coordinate the next steps, including the transfer of remains already collected in the DPRK."

"Additionally, both sides agreed to re-commence field operations in the DPRK to search for the estimated 5,300 Americans who never returned home," Pompeo said.

hague@yna.co.kr
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