New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson arrived in Seoul on Wednesday accompanied by the remains of six US soldiers who went missing during the Korean War. Richardson said the U.S. will team up with North Korea to recover any further remains of US soldiers. He added the issue will be discussed further in six-nation talks on North Korea¡¯s nuclear program.
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Bill Richardson, the governor of the U.S. state of New Mexico, left, and Anthony Principi, former U.S. veterans affairs secretary, second from left, pay respects to the remains of six American soldiers from the Korean War inside of black cases on North Korea's side of the border village of Panmunjom on Wednesday./AP
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North Korea cooperated with the U.S. in retrieving remains of missing U.S. soldiers between 1996 and 2005 in the areas of Unsan, North Pyongan Province and Jangjinho Lake in South Hamgyeong Province. The joint team found remains of 229 US soldiers, of whom 27 were identified. The U.S paid US$2 million in average to North Korea annually for excavation support. In 2002, Washington gave North Korea $4.43 million, and unofficial statistics suggest the U.S gave North Korea as much as $28 million over nine years. This is why critics say the North is only after the money in resuming cooperation.
More than 33,000 U.S. troops died in Korean War and about 8,100 are listed as missing in action.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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