Pence to Travel to Hawai‘i for Return of Korean War Remains

Vice President Mike Pence plans to travel to Hawaiʻi on Aug. 1, 2018 to participate in an Honorable Carry Ceremony, to receive remains of American service members who fell in the Korean War.

The possible remains are returning to American soil as part of a commitment made by North Korea.

Pence said that as a son of a Korean War combat veteran, “it is deeply humbling” to be a part of what he called a “historic moment.”

In a Tweet, President Trump said,”After so many years, this will be a great moment for so many families.”

Screenshot: whitehouse.gov

Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders addressed the events on Thursday:

“At their historic meeting in Singapore, President Donald J. Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un took a bold first step to achieve the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, transform relations between the United States and North Korea, and establish enduring peace. Today, the Chairman is fulfilling part of the commitment he made to the President to return our fallen American service members. We are encouraged by North Korea’s actions and the momentum for positive change.

“A US Air Force C-17 aircraft containing remains of fallen service members has departed Wonsan, North Korea. It is accompanied by service members from United Nations Command Korea and technical experts from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency. The C-17 is transferring the remains to Osan Air Base, where a formal repatriation ceremony will be held on August 1.

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“The United States owes a profound debt of gratitude to those American service members who gave their lives in service to their country and we are working diligently to bring them home. It is a solemn obligation of the United States Government to ensure that the remains are handled with dignity and properly accounted for so their families receive them in an honorable manner.

“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.”