North Korea Tuesday returned what it said were the remains of 33 American soldiers killed in the Korean War. But the gesture of peace was not matched by words.
In an apparent response to last week's meeting between President Clinton and South Korea's president, North Korea denounced the United States and threatened to withdraw from a nuclear controls treaty.Tuesday's transfer would be the largest since the North began returning remains in 1990, apparently seeking to end its diplomatic isolation.
The transfer took place during a 30-minute ceremony at this village straddling the border. North Korean soldiers brought the remains to the border in 33 coffins they handed over to U.N. honor guards, who draped each with the blue U.N. banner as a U.S. chaplain said a prayer.
In addition to bones, the coffins contained a bag of personal belongings such as buttons, dog tags, spoons and gloves. Communist officials said the remains were unearthed in several different locations.
The repatriation took place as tension mounted on the divided Korean peninsula over suspicion the North may be developing nuclear weapons. Pyongyang insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
Clinton concluded talks with South Korean President Kim Young-sam in Washington last week by threatening to press for U.N. sanctions unless North Korea allows nuclear inspections.
On Monday, North Korea said the United States was trying to stifle its Communist leadership and declared it would not bow to outside pressure.