S. Korea launches this year's war remains excavation project at DMZ battle site | Yonhap News Agency

## Summary
OK SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Wednesday started this year's project to excavate the remains of soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War on a key former battlefield within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, the defense ministry said. Soldiers send off the remains of 25 soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, found at the White Horse Ridge in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, in this photo provided by the defense ministry on Dec. 1, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) sookim@yna.co.kr (END) Related Articles Defense ministry aims to excavate some 200 remains from Korean War this year S. Korea recovers remains of soldiers killed during Korean War after resuming excavation at DMZ battle site Keywords #DMZ #excavation project Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold prev S. Korea launches this year's war remains excavation project at DMZ battle site Next S.

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SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- South Korea on Wednesday started this year's project to excavate the remains of soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War on a key former battlefield within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, the defense ministry said.
Following a three-year suspension, the military resumed the excavation project at the White Horse Ridge in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, last year in line with the Lee Jae Myung government's efforts to mend frayed ties with North Korea.
The White Horse Ridge was one of the fierce battle sites during the three-year conflict on the Korean Peninsula, with a number of dead and missing from the Korean forces known to be buried in the area.
A task force, comprising the 5th Infantry Division and an agency under the defense ministry with soldiers and experts, will remove land mines and secure a safe path for excavation work before surveying the area for remains.
The military has so far retrieved 92 sets of war remains at the White Horse Ridge in 2021-22, according to the ministry.
The ministry said it is "closely coordinating" with the United Nations Command regarding the resumption of the retrieval work, while vowing to return the last remaining remains to their family members.
The project, which began as part of a now-suspended military tension reduction accord signed by Seoul and Pyongyang in 2018, had been suspended under the previous conservative Yoon Suk Yeol administration due to heightened safety concerns from deteriorating inter-Korean ties.
In 2019, South Korea began work to retrieve the remains at Arrowhead Ridge, another former battlefield inside the DMZ, and later expanded such efforts to White Horse Ridge.
Soldiers send off the remains of 25 soldiers killed in the 1950-53 Korean War, found at the White Horse Ridge in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, in this photo provided by the defense ministry on Dec. 1, 2025. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
sookim@yna.co.kr
(END)
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Keywords
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#excavation project
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S. Korea launches this year's war remains excavation project at DMZ battle site
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S. Korea launches this year's war remains excavation project at DMZ battle site

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- Korea recovers remains of soldiers killed during Korean War after resuming excavation at DMZ battle site Keywords #DMZ #excavation project Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold prev S.

### Implications
- A task force, comprising the 5th Infantry Division and an agency under the defense ministry with soldiers and experts, will remove land mines and secure a safe path for excavation work before surveying the area for remains.
- Korea recovers remains of soldiers killed during Korean War after resuming excavation at DMZ battle site Keywords #DMZ #excavation project Articles with issue keywords Most Liked (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation (LEAD) BTS scores 7th No. 1 album on Billboard 200 with 'Arirang' Most Saved (2nd LD) Han Kang's 'We Do Not Part' wins NBCC Award for haunting portrayal of trauma (News Focus) Han Kang's NBCC win again spotlights art of translation Paik Kun-woo, at 80, says 'Music chose me' (Movie Review) 'Salmokji: Whispering Water': mood runs deeper than plot Liberal ex-prime minister to declare mayoral bid in conservative stronghold prev S.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers remains, korean, war topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 518.