Japan to recover remains of WWII soldiers at Pacific island

By Anadolu staff

Japan has begun work to recover the remains of its World War II soldiers at a site on Palau's Peleliu Island, local media reported on Friday.

It is believed that more than 1,000 Japanese soldiers are buried at the site in Peleliu Island, which was a fierce battleground in the Pacific during World War II, according to NHK.

Around 23 Japanese officials from the Japan Association for Recovery and Repatriation of War Casualties began a full-scale search for remains at the mass burial site on Friday.

More than 10,000 Japanese soldiers died at the battle with US forces on the island in 1944.

Last year, Japan Welfare Ministry determined the location of mass burial site as maps and documents earlier found show that 1,086 Japanese soldiers were buried there by the US forces, according to the broadcaster.

The remains of 19 soldiers were discovered at the site last year.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid