Pompeo hails DPRK's returning of US fallen soldiers' remains

WASHINGTON -- US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday praised Pyongyang's returning of the remains of US soldiers killed during the Korean War, as he headed to three Southeast Asian nations for a five-day visit starting Wednesday.

"Today, the remains of US service members were repatriated to the US from the DPRK," Pompeo tweeted. "Chairman Kim is fulfilling part of his commitment to POTUS."

The Pentagon said earlier on Wednesday that the remains returned by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) are "believed to be" those of US service members from the Korean War (1950-53).

On the same day, an "honorable carry ceremony" is scheduled to be held in Hawaii, attended by US Vice President Mike Pence and several military families, to receive the 55 boxes containing the remains.

At their historic summit in Singapore in June, DPRK leader Kim Jong Un agreed with US President Donald Trump to repatriate the remains of the US troops.

Pompeo was on his way to Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia for visits from August 1 to 5. In Singapore, he will attend a group of multilateral meetings including the ASEAN Regional Forum of which the DPRK is also a participant.

Before Pompeo's leaving, an anonymous senior State Department official told the media in a teleconference on Tuesday that the US goal vis-a-vis the DPRK concerning its denuclearization remains the same, and Pompeo plans to remind all nations during these meetings to keep pressure on Pyongyang as required by UN Security Council resolutions.

The US official added Pompeo is possible to meet with the DPRK officials via "potential encounters, pull-asides, bilateral meetings" during his stay in Singapore.