The Foreign Ministry has hailed North Korea's return of the remains of American soldiers killed in the Korean War.

In a statement on Friday, ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk said the repatriation was a humanitarian measure that will contribute to healing the pains of families who lost their loved ones in the conflict. 

The statement said the repatriation is in line with the U.S.-North Korea summit agreement and is a meaningful development that will contribute to building trust between the two sides. It also hoped efforts to promote peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula will gain momentum. 

The ministry added that it will continue to hold consultations with the North for the swift repatriation of the remains of South Korean soldiers who died in the Korean War through joint excavations.

A U.S. Air Force aircraft transported the remains of U.S. soldiers killed in the Korean War from the North to South Korea’s Osan Air Base on Friday morning.