DNA tests identify soldier killed in Korean War

The remains of a Korean soldier killed in the 1950-53 Korean War have been identified through DNA testing, defense officials said Thursday, marking only the third such identification using DNA information, according to Yonhap news agency.



Forensic experts at the Defense Ministry have determined that the remains, uncovered in 2007, belong to the late Pfc. Yang Son-ho, then 27 years old, after his DNA was matched with that of his 60-year-old daughter. Yang`s remains were found in Gapyeong, about 60 kilometers from Seoul, under a project launched in 2000 to locate and unearth the remains of war dead.



Similar discoveries made by the project`s team have been identified using dog tags or other belongings found with the remains.



“I am so happy though it still feels surreal as I didn`t really know my father," Yang`s daughter was quoted as saying in the ministry`s news release. "I am now hoping to find the remains of my father-in-law who was also a casualty of the Korean War.”



The ministry said it "anticipates finding and identifying more war dead through DNA identification this year."