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In this July 19, 1950 file photo, troops of the First U.S. Cavalry Division land ashore at Pohang on the east coast of Korea during the Korean War. AP/Press Association Images

North Korea wants America to take home the bodies of 5,000 soldiers

The bodies have been there over 60 years since the end of the Korean War.

THERE ARE AN estimated 5,300 bodies of American soldiers in North Korea – and now Pyongyang wants Washington to come get them.

The North Korean government announced today that it will start moving the bodies, left there from the Korean War of 1950-1953, “en masse”.

The announcement is seen as an attempt to pressure the US into coming to collect their dead. A resumption of the US effort to account for all of their dead and missing would mean much-needed cash for the impoverished North.

The United States suspended efforts to recover the remains of thousands of U.S. soldiers who died during the Korean War because of the North’s plans to launch a long-range rocket in 2012.

Korean War Crew members of Double Whammy, described by the air force as first Boeing B-29 to drop bombs in Korean War, are shown by their ship at 20th Air Force headquarters in Far East AP / Press Association Images AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

 

The US at the time was just starting the process of resuming excavation work that had been suspended in 2005 when Washington said security arrangements for its personnel working in the North were insufficient.

North Korean would have received millions for supporting the work.

Around 8,000 Americans are listed as missing from the war, 5,300 of those in the North.

An unidentified North Korean military official said in a dispatch that the remains are “left here and there uncared and carried away en masse” because of building projects, land reorganisation and flood damage.

Analyst Chang Yong Seok at Seoul National University told the Associated Press that the North’s statement appears aimed at applying pressure to US politicians and officials ahead of November elections to resume the recovery project, which could give the North a way to get foreign currency and improved ties with Washington.

The North has been seeking closer ties with the US administration to try to secure investment in their economy. Despite being five times bigger than Ireland, its GDP is less than a quarter.

With reporting from the Associated Press

Read: Where has Kim Jong-Un gone?

Read: Talks to resume between North and South Korea after surprise visit

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11 Comments
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    Mute Éanna o Sca
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    Jan 13th 2025, 1:22 PM

    Good riddens! Her attitude and complete disregard to her manager Vera Pauw in that media interview with McCabe was disgusting and disgraceful. No loss

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    Mute Franno
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    Jan 13th 2025, 1:33 PM

    @Chutes Idiot: chutes id… here is one of the far right racist troll pseudonyms used by Trump24 / tired Jim / various Does / many others

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Jan 13th 2025, 1:39 PM

    @Éanna o Sca: ‘riddens’ haha

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    Mute Brian Hunt
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    Jan 13th 2025, 2:13 PM

    @Frantic: Take a day off!

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    Mute Stiles
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    Jan 13th 2025, 2:58 PM

    @Éanna o Sca: you know nothing about the irish girls football team if you think their attitude towards Vera pauw wasn’t justified…

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    Mute Éanna o Sca
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    Jan 13th 2025, 3:02 PM

    @Stiles: enlighten me so…curious to know what you know..

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    Mute Sun Rise
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    Jan 13th 2025, 4:51 PM

    @Franno: In all fairness, the manner in which they conducted themselves after the World Cup was highly unprofessional.

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    Mute Patrick MC Dermott
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    Jan 13th 2025, 6:53 PM

    @Éanna o Sca: As long as we still have McCabe, we’re going to win every single game. She will score five or six goals at every match. No need for the other ten players or a manager, for that matter !

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    Mute Louis Jacob
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    Jan 13th 2025, 7:00 PM

    @Stiles: Exactly. It was Pauw who spilled to the press about McCabe wanting Farrelly to be taken off. Perfectly normal (and private) conversation between captain and manager. She knew what she was doing and it blew up in her face. Cute hoor and it seems she conned quite a few of the low information commenters on here.

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    Mute Brian M
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    Jan 14th 2025, 10:54 AM

    @Louis Jacob: All other issues aside, don’t pretend it’s normal for a player to demand of the manager to take off a certain player. That’s totally overstepping the mark. I remember doing it once many moons ago and being pulled aside by a very experienced teammate (ex pro) who pulled me aside after game and told me in no uncertain terms never to do it again.

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    Mute Éanna o Sca
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    Jan 14th 2025, 3:08 PM

    @Brian M: fair play, at least you learned from that. This group of Irish girls will win absolutely zero with McCabe/Caldwell at the helm calling the shots. At least the first part is gone. No place for egos when the quality available is shockingly poor. Vera did an unbelievable job with those players.

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    Mute qffaffaf affrafrfraf
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    Jan 13th 2025, 8:16 PM

    She looks rough for 36

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