- Oct 3, 2018
- 2,499
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Status of Remains of Turkish Forces Korea |
Private and encrypted Delivered by Republic of Korea Embassy Ankara |
I hope this email finds you well. The Republic of Korea for the past ten months has conducted a systematic search for the remains of over 32,000 Korean, Turkish, and other UN forces service members. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has completed a major canvas of the country using new and updated maps, information from the Archives and support of the veterans located in the North. H.E. President Kim Dae-jung has made the excavation for the proper return of all war heroes of our long and painful war to be returned as soon as possible a top priority for his administration. Today’s Republic has been made possible thanks to the dedication of the guardian spirits of the country and decorated war veterans including the U.N. Korean War. H.E. President Kim pays a heartfelt tribute to all of those who have worked hard to help establish and maintain peace.
The Republic of Korea would like to inform the Republic of Turkey that the remains of 165 Turkish service members have been recovered with identification made on all 165. We are most gracious for their sacrifices and contributions to the defense and preservation of the Korean Republic. It is in their sacrifices the brotherly relations between Korea and Turkey were established. It is in their sacrifices that the world recognized Turkey's courage as warriors and commitment to its friends.
With regards to the 165 Turkish remains currently held in the Republic of Korea, we formally invite a delegation of the Ministry of Defense to confirm the remains of Turkish servicemen and begin the process of informing their families long awaiting their return. It is our hope that they may find closure with the return of their loved ones. Once their identifications are confirmed, it would be our privileged to invite and host the families of the 165 Turkish servicemen so that they may see the strong and beaconing Republic that was preserved and built on their sacrifices.
The brotherly relations between Korea and Turkey are unique and most respected. It is our hope that our relationships will continue to grow to ensure that the sacrifices of the many hundreds of thousands in our war can be protected and honored. The division of the Korean Peninsula is an uncureable wound in the hearts of every Korean. Reminding us the pains of the 20th century, regardless of how far forward we move. It is our hope that the wounds on the Turkish people's hearts can be mended and patched with the return of their missing servicemen. We are prepared to provide all services and information needed for the proper rites and protocols for their return and offer the spaces of the Busan UN War Memorial to bury the remains of our blood brothers or to have them returned to Turkey.
Signed with sincerity,
Cabinet of the Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
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Ministry of Foreign Affairs
All information is protected from release by the Diplomatic Communications Security Act 1997
Authorized viewing is limited to those directly emailed, cc'd, and bcc'd