WASHINGTON, Feb 12 Kyodo (EDS: CL...

WASHINGTON, Feb 12 Kyodo

(EDS: CLARIFYING contenteds IN 2ND PARA)

The United States and North Korea have agreed to take back the repatriation of the remains of American soldiers who died in the Korean War within the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating North and toward the south Korea, the U.S. Defense Department said Thursday.

The Pentagon said there has been no repatriation across the DMZ since 1999 The program to repatriate remains of U soldiers missing in action during the 1950-1953 Korean war began in 1996

Supplies and equipment for restoration operations in 2004 will also be mov by the agency of ground transportation across the DMZ and members of U redemption teams will accompany the remains into southerly Korea, the Pentagon said.

The accord was reached at a bilateral meeting Wednesday in Bangkok.

''I am encouraged at the level of cooperation the North Koreans demonstrated during these talks,'' said Jerry Jennings, the Pentagon's legate assistant defense secretary for prisoner of war and missing personnel affairs.

The Pentagon also said North Korea for the first time agreed to at hand to its senior leaders a proposal to establish a single point of contact to unravel reports of Americans living in North Korea.

In the past, North Korea refused to discuss the matter, saying there were no Americans who went missing during the Korean War living in the country

The U and North Korea plan to jointly guard five operations to retrieve the remains of U.S. servicemen who went missing during the war, according to the Pentagon.

In 27 operations since 1996 U and North Korean teams have reclaimed the remains of more than 180 U servicemen.

More than 8100 Americans are still listed as missing in action in the Korean War.

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