The remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs killed in the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) will be returned to China from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday, according to China's Ministry of Veterans Affairs.
A Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft, which departed from an airport in central China on Monday for Inchon, the ROK, will bring the fallen heroes back to their motherland.
This will be the 13th such repatriation of CPV remains following the handover agreement between the two countries. Since 2014, the remains of 1,011 soldiers, along with related items, have been returned to China from the ROK.
After the aircraft took off, the five-star red flag was displayed inside the cabin, along with an exclusive emblem for this mission. The design consists of a sculpture of a CPV soldier, the CPV badge, an echelon of a Y-20B transport aircraft and four J-20 fighter jets, a soldier in the new era, and doves of peace. It is also accompanied by the words "Heroes 1950" and "Homecoming 2026".
China's large homegrown transport aircraft, Y-20, officially codenamed "Kunpeng", has carried out the repatriation task since 2020. This year marks the first time that the Y-20B has been deployed for the repatriation duties.
The Y-20B, an upgraded variant of China's Y-20A strategic airlifter, is powered by a new domestically produced high-bypass ratio turbofan engine and boasts extended range, high load capacity, and high speed.
"This is the first time that our Y-20B has been deployed to carry out an overseas mission. We have conducted overall maintenance on the aircraft, and the crew has also conducted detailed drills on every procedure, every command and every action. In order to cope with complex weather, we have prepared three sets of contingency plans to ensure that the mission achieves the best results at the highest standard," said Yang Minghui, a member of an aviation unit of the Central Theater Command Air Force.
The Korean War broke out in June 1950, eight months after the People's Republic of China was founded. At the request of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, China sent 2.9 million CPV soldiers to assist the Democratic People's Republic of Korea during the war, of whom more than 360,000 were killed or injured.
New batch of Chinese martyrs' remains from Korean War to be returned Wednesday
Pakistan on Monday continued to tighten security in its capital Islamabad ahead of the expected second round of U.S.-Iran talks despite no indication that Iran has changed its mind about staying out of the negotiations with the United States.
Pakistan has placed the capital city and the neighboring garrison city of Rawalpindi on high security alert. On Sunday evening, the Pakistani government announced that ministries, government offices, and related agencies inside the Red Zone would shift to remote work on Monday.
According to police sources, some 20,000 police personnel, supported by hundreds of elite commandos, including snipers, have been deployed on security duty across the twin cities. Similar arrangements were made before the first round of peace talks.
Authorities have also suspended all public and goods transport in Rawalpindi and Islamabad as part of the security plan, while most entry points to the Red Zone have been sealed.
Major hotels, including Serena Hotel and Marriott Hotel, have asked guests to vacate after the government requisitioned the properties for the talks. Hostels and guest houses in the capital were also directed to close until further notice.
Analysts say Pakistan is still working in an effort to bring Washington and Tehran back to the negotiation table.
Pakistan on Sunday abruptly cleared potential venues for the next round of talks, including the Serena Hotel -- a five-star property in the Red Zone -- where the first round was held. Later that evening, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a 45-minute phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Outside the Jinnah Convention Centre, which served as the media center for the first round of U.S.-Iran talks, the official backdrop for the negotiations has been put up again. Security personnel at the entrance confirmed that the media center is being rebuilt.
All signs suggest that Pakistan is making maximum preparations for the new round of diplomatic talks.
However, compared to the high-profile approach before the first round of talks, Pakistan's latest security measures, while more extensive, have been accompanied by a notably lower public profile. As of now, there has been no further word on the approval of press credentials.
According to Iranian media, this contrast sends a clear message: Pakistan's role has shifted from "enthusiastic host" to "cautious gatekeeper." Its goal now is to create a tightly controlled, secure, and media-free space where the main protagonists -- the United States and Iran -- can focus on building mutual trust.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior commanders, and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the Middle East.
A ceasefire between the United States and Iran took effect on April 8. Iranian and U.S. delegations then held talks in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, but no progress was reported.
Pakistan tightens security in capital ahead of expected 2nd round of US-Iran talks
