U.S. NewsMilitary

Actions

Remains From North Korea 'Consistent' With Being US Service Members

U.S. scientists have already started trying to identify what are believed to be remains of U.S. service members recently turned over by North Korea.
Posted at 7:03 AM, Aug 03, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-03 07:03:34-04

U.S. scientists have already started trying to identify what are believed to be remains of U.S. service members recently turned over by North Korea.

The director of the military lab in Hawaii that's been tasked with the DNA verification process told reporters that the remains are "consistent with being Americans."

He also said the remains were returned with military equipment, such as canteen bottles and helmets, that U.S. service members would have used during the Korean War.

North Korea handed over 55 boxes of remains on July 27. Those boxes were kept at a U.S. military base in South Korea for a short time, before being flown to Hawaii on Wednesday.

It's unknown how many sets of remains are in each box and the only identification that North Korea sent over was a single dog tag. Officials already contacted that person's family.

Identifying the rest of the remains could take years. 

Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN