Korea and China have jointly held burial rites for the remains of 68 mainland Chinese soldiers that were excavated from Korean War battlefields last year. The soldiers were part of the Chinese People's Volunteer Army (CPVA). The rites took place at an interim mortuary inside the base of the 25th division of the Korean army in Jeokseong-myeon Township in Paju City, Gyeonggi-do (Gyeonggi Province), at 2 p.m. on March 16.

The remains were unearthed last year at some of the most ferocious battlefields of the Korean War (1950-1953), including Paju and Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province. The Korean government sent 437 remains of Chinese soldiers who were previously buried in Paju City back to their home country in March last year.




The rites took place in the presence of both Korean and Chinese officials. Attendees included the defense attaché at the Chinese embassy in Seoul, Du Nong Yi, and the Korean army's Brigadier General Moon Sang Gyun.

Chinese Defense Attaché Du Nong Yi said, "I appreciate the efforts and consideration of the Korean government for having excavated the remains and for having appropriately conducted the coffin rites ceremony.”

The remains of the Chinese soldiers will be sent back to China after a hand-over ceremony on March 20 at Incheon International Airport that will be attended by representatives from both Korea and China. The remains will then be laid to rest at a war martyr cemetery in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, for soldiers who died during the Korean War, which China officially refers to as the "抗美援朝" (항미원조 in Korean), or, "The War to Resist U.S. Aggression and to Aid Korea."


Article by Wi Tack-whan, Yoon Sojung
Photos: Jeon Han
Korea.net Staff Writers
whan23@korea.kr