China sends J-20 fighter jets to escort returning remains of 12 Chinese martyrs in Korean War

China

China sends J-20 fighter jets to escort returning remains of 12 Chinese martyrs in Korean War

2026-04-22 11:14 Last Updated At：15:17

China sent four J-20 fighter jets to escort the remains of 12 Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) martyrs that returned to the motherland from the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Wednesday.

The remains of the martyrs who lost their lives during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953) were carried by a Chinese Air Force Y-20B large transport aircraft with the call sign of "Ronggui", meaning "glorious return".

"The Y-20B aircraft 'Ronggui 50' is currently flying at an altitude of 7,800 meters and a speed of 640 kilometers per hour, approximately 30 kilometers away from the handover point between China and South Korea. At this moment, four J-20 aircraft with the call sign 'Red Eagle' have taken off from an airport in northeastern China and are waiting in the designated rendezvous airspace for the Y-20B. They will join the formation in this airspace to escort the remains of the martyrs to Taoxian International Airport in Shenyang," Lyv Xintong, an officer at Dalian Air Traffic Control Center of Chinese Air Force, said on Wednesday morning.

"Since 10:00 this morning, we have been closely monitoring the status of the aircraft performing the repatriation mission and the surrounding air situation. Through precise command and control, we are ensuring an unobstructed aerial passage for the martyrs returning home. This is our way of offering solace and pay tribute to the fallen heroes," said Lyv.

Wednesday's delivery marked the 13th such repatriation of CPV remains following the handover agreement between China and the ROK.

Since 2014, the remains of 1,011 soldiers have been returned to China from the ROK.

China has intensified efforts to identify the remains of CPV martyrs, including the creation of a DNA database for martyrs and their relatives, offering solid technical and data support to help more families find their missing loved ones.

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.

Sponsor this article

Iran displays Khorramshahr-4 missile as talks with US stall

Iran showcased its Khorramshahr-4 long-range ballistic missile at Tehran’s Revolution Square on Tuesday evening, state media reported, as uncertainty deepened over a second round of peace talks with the United States.

Footage from Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting showed crowds waving flags at the rally where the missile was exhibited.

The Khorramshahr-4 is one of Iran's advanced medium- to long-range ballistic missiles, with an estimated range of about 2,000 kilometers. The warhead is capable of carrying more than one ton of high-explosive payload, making it one of the largest warhead configurations developed within Iran, according to media reports.

The display came as U.S. Vice President JD Vance remained in Washington instead of departing for Pakistan, and Iranian officials signaled they would not resume talks until the issue of the naval blockade is resolved. Ahmad Naderi, a member of parliament’s presidium, told the Iranian Students’ News Agency that negotiations would be on hold until the blockade is lifted.