The United States military sent 100 temporary caskets to the inter-Korean border on Saturday in preparation to receive the remains of American soldiers killed in the Korean War.

An official from the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said that 100 wooden "temporary transit cases" were sent from a U.S. military airbase in Osan to the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom as part of preparations to "receive and transport remains in a dignified manner."

The cases will likely be sent to North Korea in a few days for use to carry the remains to Osan for a memorial service. The remains will then be sent to Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii for identification.

Separately, the USFK has moved 158 metal coffins from Yongsan in central Seoul to Osan.

U.S. officials have said earlier that the remains are believed to be some or more than 200. But the number is likely to be less than that in light of the number of metal coffins.

The repatriation comes in line with a joint statement between President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Kim Jong-un following their June 12 summit in Singapore.

[Photo : KBS News]