North Korea Returns Remains of US Troops

An American military plane flew into North Korea on Friday and left with the remains of US troops who were killed during the Korean War, the White House says. It's not clear how many, but South Korea's Yonhap news agency estimates that 50 sets of remains were transferred. The plane brought the remains to the Osan Air Base in South Korea, where forensic tests will be conducted over the next few days, reports the Washington Post. After that, the remains will be sent to Hawaii ahead of a formal repatriation ceremony scheduled for Aug. 1.

“Today’s actions represent a significant first step to recommence the repatriation of remains from North Korea and to resume field operations in North Korea to search for the estimated 5,300 Americans who have not yet returned home,” said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in a statement. The development comes out of the June summit between President Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un. Friday is the 65th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended hostilities. (More North Korea stories.)