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The White House has been observed making preparations at the administration level in anticipation of a potential summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Kelly McKeague, director of the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), recently stated in a video interview that the White House inquired about what actions the DPAA could take if President Trump reaches an agreement with Chairman Kim.
McKeague noted that the situation is similar to that leading up to the 2018 Singapore summit, and he was asked again about the preparations the DPAA is making if President Trump reaches an agreement with the North Korean leader. The DPAA is responsible for the search and recovery of U.S. military remains, identification, and repatriation, and has indicated that it is ready to recover the remains of U.S. servicemen who were killed or went missing during the Korean War through cooperation with North Korea.
While the exact timing of the White House's inquiry to the DPAA has not been disclosed, it appears to have occurred in the context of President Trump's recent emphasis on his rapport with Chairman Kim and his expressed willingness to meet within the year. McKeague emphasized the humanitarian mission of recovering U.S. military remains and explained that cooperation with North Korea could serve as a pathway for dialogue between the two countries. The U.S. and North Korea agreed on the recovery and repatriation of U.S. military remains during their 2018 summit, but discussions have since stalled. It is estimated that approximately 5,300 U.S. military remains are still in North Korea.