South Korea to return remains of Chinese war dead

South Korea will repatriate the remains of more than 400 Chinese soldiers who were killed during the Korean war some 60 years ago, military officials said on Thursday.

The South’s President Park Geun-hye offered as a goodwill gesture to return the bodies during her visit to Beijing in June.

The defence ministry said it would send back the remains of 425 Chinese soldiers buried in a military-controlled cemetery in Paju just south of the border with North Korea.

“Work began today to excavate the remains under an agreement reached between the two countries in early December,” a ministry spokesman said.

“Together with the remains of Chinese soldiers, their relics that have been unearthed and kept by our ministry will be returned.”

The excavation will take several months, he said, adding South Korea would take charge of all preparations such as washing the remains and placing them in coffins.