The remains of 12 South Korean soldiers who died in the Korean War return home to a sombre military ceremony.<br/> <br />South Korean President Lee Myung-bak salutes as relatives of the dead bow their heads.<br/> <br />Nearly 60 years on, this is the first time the remains of those killed in North Korea have been repatriated.<br/> <br />The two Koreas are still technically at war since the conflict ended in 1953 in a truce without a peace treaty.<br/> <br />In the capital Seoul, the commander of U.S. Forces in Korea paid tribute to those he called ''fine warriors.''<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (English) GENERAL JAMES THURMAN, COMMANDER OF U.S. FORCES KOREA, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I only hope that we will reunite those missing, that are still uncountable for, that were left on a bloody battle field in North Korea."<br/> <br />According to Seoul's Yonhap news agency, a U.S. excavation team has recovered the remains of 226 South Korean soldiers in North Korea.<br/> <br />Lily Grimes, Reuters
