We start with the latest developments between North Korea and the United States.
Pyongyang on Friday handed over 55 cases containing the remains of American troops killed in the Korean War.
Kim Hyesung reports on the response by the U.S., and what this could hopefully lead to.
"I want to thank Chairman Kim in front of the media for fulfilling a promise that he made to me, and I'm sure that he will continue to fulfill that promise as they search and search and search."
That's what U.S. president Donald Trump said at the White House Friday local time.
North Korea transferred 55 cases carrying the remains of US. soldiers killed in the Korean War,...marking the first step in implementing an agreement reached at the North Korea-U.S. summit in June.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted that he is pleased with the North Korean leader's decision to follow through on that commitment.
Defense Secretary James Mattis also welcomed the news, saying the North Korean gesture indicates the relationship between Pyongyang and Washington is thawing and that negotiations are underway to have U.S. teams head to North Korea to search for more fallen U.S. service members’ remains.
According to a White House Statement, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will travel to Hawaii on August 1st to participate in the Honorable Carry Ceremony and receive the remains as they return to American soil.
As the son of a Korean War combat veteran, Pence added that he is deeply humbled to be part of the historic moment.
More than 35 thousand Americans were killed during the Korean war, with 77-hundred of those U.S. troops still listed as 'missing in action', most of them in North Korea.
The transfer of the remains coincided with the 65th anniversary of the 1953 armistice agreement...and has been hailed by the White House as helping the momentum for positive change.
All eyes are on the next steps... and on whether this momentum could lead to a formal declaration to end the Korea War and to more progress toward North Korea's denuclearization.
Kim Hyesung, Arirang News.
