Seoul: South Korea and the United States on Wednesday initiated a joint analysis of remains believed to be those of American soldiers who perished during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953, according to Seoul's defense ministry.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry announced that its war remains excavation team, along with the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), embarked on a two-day forensic identification process. The effort involves a team of approximately twelve experts who will examine three sets of remains thought to be of U.S. soldiers, with plans for repatriation to the United States next month.

The analysis includes two sets of remains presumed to belong to soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Division, discovered in Yanggu and Hongcheon counties in Gangwon Province in 2010 and 2021, respectively. The third set of remains was uncovered in the central city of Sejong in 2012 and is believed to be linked to the U.S. Army's 21st Regiment, 24th Infantry Division.

This joint analysis is part of an annual collaboration between South Korea and the U.S., which has been ongoing since the establishment of the ministry's excavation team in 2007.