Return of possible remains by North Korea diplomatic boosts

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis cautioned that the transfer of remains "is separate" from what has been done in North Korea. But he said it was a step in the right direction following the Trump-Kim summit in Singapore.

"This is obviously a gesture of carrying forward what we agreed to do in Singapore," Mattis told reporters Friday . "

Despite soaring rhetoric about denuclearization before the Singapore meeting, the summit ended with only an aspirational wave.

Subsequent talks between the US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the senior North Korean officials, North with the North accusing the Americans of making "unilateral and gangster-like" demands on denuclearization. On Wednesday, Pompeo said a great deal of work remains ahead of a North Korea denuclearization deal, but he declined to provide any timeline.

Trump, addressing reporters on the South Lawn, said Vice President Mike Pence would greet the families and the remains of the soldiers.

"We have many others coming, but I want to thank Chairman Kim in front of the media for fulfilling, he promised me, and I'm sure he will continue to fulfill that promise. Trump said.

"These incredible American heroes will soon be at rest on the American soil sacred," he added.

Pence, the sound of a Korean war veteran fight, said in "It is deeply humbling to be part of the United States" this historic moment, "Pence said. "We will never forget the sacrifices these brave service members and their families made for our nation and our freedoms."

Early Friday morning in Korea, a US Air Force C-17 plane transport made a rare trip into North Korea to retrieve 55 boxes of what are believed to be remains from the Korean War. The aircraft then flew from Wonsan to Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, near the South Korean capital of Seoul.

At the air base, US servicemen and a military honor guarded to the tarmac boxes covered in blue UN flags. Officials in North Korea had no comment on the handover, which came on the end of the Korean War.

Once the cases arrive in Hawaii, a series of forensic examinations will be made

Mattis underscored that looming question, saying "we do not know who's in those boxes." But he said the gesture is important for families of the fallen, which could include any of the allies that also fought in the war.

"We have families that they got the telegram, have never had closure," Mattis said. "

More than 36,000 US troops died in the conflict."

The repatriation of North Korean demands for fast-tracked discussions to formally end the war, which was stopped with an armistice and not a peace treaty. South Korea's Defense Ministry also said that the United States would continue to be a member of the United States.

The remains are believed to be more than 200 North Korea has held in storage for some time, and has been able to recover from land during farming or construction. The vast majority of the war dead, however, to be located and retrieved from cemeteries and battlefields across the countryside.

Efforts to recover North Korea's nuclear warriors North American military search teams conducted 269 sets of American remains. The last time North Korea turned over in 2007, when Bill Richardson, to form an ambbadador and New Mexico governor, secured the return of six sets.

Washington has said Pyongyang would not get sanctions relief and significant security and economic rewards unless it is firmly committed to a process of completely and verifiably eliminating its nuclear weapons. There are lingering doubts about whether or not they would agree to fully relinquish their nukes, which he could see to a stronger guarantee of survival than any security insurance the United States could offer.

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Ahn reported from Pyeongtaek, South Korea . Kim reported from Seoul and Baldor from Washington. AP journalist Eric Talmadge in Pyongyang, North Korea, Kim Yong-ho in Pyeongtaek, Foster Klug in Seoul, and Ken Thomas and Sagar Meghani in Washington Contributed by:

HAS BEEN UNDERSTANDING THE HOLIDAYS OF THE US South Korea, Friday, July 27, 2018. The UN Command says the 55 cases of war remains retrieved from North Korea will be honored at a ceremony next Wednesday at a base in South Korea. (AP Photo / Ahn Young-joon, Pool)

A Soldier Containing a Soldier Containing a US Soldier Who Was Killed in the Korean War at a Ceremony at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Friday, July 27 , 2018. The UN Command says the 55 cases of war remains retrieved from North Korea will be honored at a ceremony next Wednesday at a base in South Korea. (Kim Hong-Ji / Pool Photo via AP)

U.N. The UN Command says the 55 cases Korean war after arriving from North Korea, at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Friday, July 27, 2018. will be honored at a ceremony next Wednesday at a base in South Korea. (AP Photo / Ahn Young-joon, Pool)

North Korean soldiers visit Fatherland Liberation War Martyrs Cemetery during the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the ceasefire armistice that ends the fighting in the Korean War, which the country celebrates the day of "victor In North Korea, Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, July 27, 2018. (AP Photo / Dita Alangkara)

North Korea n men bow at the giant bronze statues of the late North Korean leaders Kim Il Sung and his son Kim Jong Il during the commemoration of the 65th anniversary of the ceasefire armistice that ended the fighting in the Korean War, which the country celebrates the day Mansu Hill Grand Monument in Pyongyang, North Korea, Friday, July 27, 2018. (AP Photo / Dita Alangkara)

Soldiers carry caskets containing remains of US soldiers who were killed in the Korean War at a ceremony at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Friday, July 27, 2018. North On the return of the Korean War, the White House said, with a US military plan making a rare trip to North Korea to retrieve 55 cases of remains. (Kim Hong-Ji / Pool Photo via AP)

A Soldier Containing a Soldier Containing a US Soldier Who Was Killed in the Korean War at a Ceremony at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Friday, July 27 , 2018. The UN Command said the 55 cases of war remains retrieved from North Korea will be honored at a ceremony next Wednesday at a base in South Korea. (Kim Hong-Ji / Pool Photo via AP)

HAS BEEN HAVING AN AIRCRAFT OF THE AIRCRAFT. Korea, Friday, July 27, 2018. The UN Command says the 55 cases of war remains retrieved from North Korea will be honored at a ceremony next Wednesday at a base in South Korea. (AP Photo / Ahn Young-joon, Pool)

U.S. Army soldiers salute as vehicles carry remains believed to be from American servicemen killed during the 1950-53 Korean War after arrived from North Korea, at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Friday, July 27, 2018. The UN Command says the 55 North Korea will be honored at a ceremony next Wednesday at a base in South Korea. (AP Photo / Ahn Young-joon.Pool)

HAS BEEN UNDERSTANDING THE ATTITUDE OF THE ATTITUDE OF THE AIRCRAFT Korea, Friday, July 27, 2018. The UN Command says the 55 cases of war remains retrieved from North Korea will be honored at a ceremony next Wednesday at a base in South Korea. (AP Photo / Ahn Young-joon.Pool)

HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM. at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, Friday, July 27, 2018. The UN Command says the 55 cases of war remains retrieved from North Korea will be honored at a ceremony next Wednesday at a base in South Korea. (AP Photo / Ahn Young-joon.Pool)