South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said it will resume excavation of Korean War remains in the White Horse Hill area within the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) starting Wednesday.
The ministry had restarted the White Horse Hill excavation last year after the work was suspended in 2022 as part of inter-Korean military tension reduction measures.
White Horse Hill, located in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, was the site of 12 fierce battles over 10 days in October 1952 between the Republic of Korea's 9th Infantry Division and Chinese forces during the Korean War. A large number of South Korean soldiers were killed or went missing there.
The excavation will prioritize safety, proceeding in the order of mine clearance, securing access routes, and then basic and detailed excavation work, the ministry said.
The White Horse Hill remains excavation task force comprises the 5th Infantry Division, the Ministry of National Defense Agency for KIA Recovery and Identification, and the 5th Engineer Brigade.
"We are closely coordinating with the United Nations Command regarding the resumption of the White Horse Hill excavation," the ministry said. "We will fulfill the nation's sacred duty to continue excavating the remains of Korean War fallen soldiers so that every last one of them can be returned to their families and homeland."