The repatriation of the remains of more than 200 American service members who died in North Korea during the Korean War is expected to come around next week. 

Government and military officials in South Korea said Friday that the return of the remains is expected to take a significant amount of time given how many there are and that various ideas about the method of repatriation are being mulled.

They added that Pentagon officials are expected to make related preparations in the North, saying arrangements for a memorial service also need to be made.

The remains are likely to be brought to Osan, a U.S. military air base south of Seoul, before being sent to Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii for identification. 

The U.S. Defense Department believes the remains of some 53-hundred U.S. soldiers are buried in the North. 

The repatriation will mark the first step to be implemented under the agreement reached during last week’s U.S.-North Korea summit. 

[Photo : KBS News]