Another Korean-American employee of DPAA (Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency) tells behind stories re remains of US soldiers sent by NK. "Most remains are those who died in their late teens/early 20s. We are so indebted, we must reunite them w/their family" news.joins.com/article/228426…
Chung Yang-seung worked at DPAA for 3 years analyzing remains. He clarifies oft-cited stories re NK sending animal bones: "There were non-human bones but it wasn't intentional. When you excavate, debris get mixed in: rocks, animal bones, tree roots. SK remains also get mixed in"
NK sent remains in 55 boxes. How many separate remains are in there? "NK used to send boxes w/lots of remains mixed in. That's why it takes so long to analyze. If there are 100 bones, it could be 100 people or only 1 person. We still have remains from 1990s yet to be identified"
How can you tell so many remains were in late teens or early 20s? Because of growth plates (epiphyseal plates) in their bones: this is the cartilage-like structure at limb bone ends indicating growing years aren't over, typical in teens.
koreadaily.com/news/read.asp?…
koreadaily.com/news/read.asp?…
Chung repeats the story told by Jenny Jin of JPAC that NK would bury bones they found earlier and had in storage. Why would NK rebury bones? Chung declines to speculate and Jin also is reluctant to talk about it. But it's true, they admit. But why?
Jenny Jin recalls some bones excavated by DPAA had pencil marks. What? NK was prolly storing the bones and had them reburied when DPAA came to excavate. But why? Prolly to get reimbursement or perhaps to save face: DPAA and NK used to argue re where to dig voakorea.com/a/2431480.html
Chung reminds finding remains in NK is a race against time. Many family members have passed away and you turn to those who are not immediate family. But he recalls a cousin he located who would grab, hug and kiss the remains. That's the motto of DPAA: "Until they are home"
