Asia - Pacific

South Korea resumes search for Korean War soldiers’ remains near border with North Korea

South Korean Defense Ministry says project resumed as part of measures to reduce inter-Korean military tensions

Anadolu staff  | 15.10.2025 - Update : 15.10.2025
South Korea resumes search for Korean War soldiers’ remains near border with North Korea Gimpo-si, South Korea (Photo by Daniel Ceng)

ANKARA

South Korea’s military resumed a project Wednesday to recover the remains of soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), a buffer area separating the two Koreas, the Defense Ministry said.

Excavation work restarted at White Horse Ridge in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province as part of Seoul’s efforts to ease inter-Korean military tensions and foster reconciliation, according to Yonhap News Agency.

"As part of measures to reduce inter-Korean military tensions, the Defense Ministry has resumed as of Wednesday the excavation of war remains at White Horse Ridge in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, that was halted in 2022," the ministry said.

The project had been suspended due to safety concerns amid strained ties with Pyongyang.

North Korea has not yet responded to South Korea’s latest move.

South Korea launched its first excavation project at Arrowhead Ridge in 2019 and later expanded the effort to White Horse Ridge.

So far, the South Korean military has recovered the remains of 424 soldiers from Arrowhead Ridge and 67 from White Horse Ridge.

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