South Korea Set to Repatriate China Soldiers' Remains

South Korean workers prepare the remains of Chinese soldiers who died in the Korean War in early 1950s, in Paju, South Korea, March 28, 2016. The remains of 36 Chinese soldiers will be flown back to China after a handover ceremony on March 31. [Photo: Xinhua]

The remains of dozens of Chinese soldiers killed during the Korean War were on Monday prepared for repatriation to China.

The South Korean Defence Ministry wrapped fragments, including skulls, and placed them in small coffins during a ceremony at the temporary columbarium in Paju.

Colonel Lee Hak-gi with the Ministry is in charge of remains recovery and identification.

"In order to prepare for repatriation of Chinese soldiers' remains, we will proceed with the first examination of remains, relics and records, the coffin rites, which will take place here today, and a repatriation ceremony on March 31st."

The two countries will hold a transfer ceremony for the remains of 36 soldiers on Thursday, just a few days before Tomb-sweeping Day, the Chinese holiday for commemorating the dead.

In 2014, South Korea and China agreed to repatriate remains of Chinese soldiers killed during the Korean War on humanitarian grounds.

The South Korean Defence Ministry returned to China the remains of 437 soldiers in 2014 and 68 soldiers in 2015.

The Chinese People's Volunteers fought alongside the North Korean army in the Korean War against the South Korean army and U.S.-led UN forces between 1950 and 1953.

Almost 200,000 Chinese soldiers were confirmed killed in the war, with most of them buried on the Korean Peninsula.