U.S. meets with N. Korea to talk MIAs

BANGKOK, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- U.S. officials met with North Korean officials Tuesday in Bangkok about the recovery of the remains of 5,500 U.S. servicemen missing since the Korean War.

The Defense Department said a delegation led by Robert J. Newberry, deputy assistant secretary of defense for prisoners of war/missing personnel affairs, will only address the issue of resuming remains recovery of U.S. servicemen from the Korean War, the Los Angeles Times reported.

"Accounting for Americans missing in action is a stand-alone humanitarian matter, not tied to any other issue between the two countries," the Defense Department said Monday in a statement.

More than 7,900 Americans remain missing from the Korean War, with 5,500 of those believed to be missing in North Korea.