WASHINGTON — The United States said Wednesday it is suspending efforts to recover remains of thousands of fallen service members in North Korea, the latest sign that a recent thaw in relations is over.
The U.S. was in the process of resuming the hunt for remains missing from the 1950-53 Korean War that had been on hold since 2005 — the only form of cooperation between the two militaries.
But North Korea announced plans last week to launch a satellite into space by rocket — a step the U.S. says would violate a U.N. ban. That knocked back recent progress in negotiations on the North’s nuclear program and has jeopardized a Feb. 29 agreement in which the U.S. was to provide food aid in exchange for a nuclear freeze.
The U.S. left open the door to resuming recovery of remains if the situation improves.
North Korea said the rocket launch, intended to mark the centennial of the nation’s founder in mid-April, has peaceful aims. The U.S. and other countries suspect it would serve to test capabilities of a long-range missile. Pyongyang also has threatened a “sacred war” against rival South Korea, in response to recent U.S.-South Korean military drills.
The agreement on resuming the troop-recovery operations was made in October, and the program was to begin this month. North Korea would have received millions in compensation for its support of the operations.
Pentagon press secretary George Little told reporters that North Korea has not acted appropriately in recent days and weeks and “it’s important for them to return to the standards of behavior that the international community has called for.”
