It's been 65 years since the Korean war ended - but the remains of more than 7,000 US soldiers are still unaccounted for. The Trump administration hopes North Korea will on Friday (27th July) handover the bodies of some of those who died.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un committed to return the remains of American soldiers during his summit with President Donald Trump last month.
Harry Horton has been to meet one man who hopes his grandfather could be one of them.
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"This memorial is my hallowed ground…. there is nowhere I can really go to honour my grandfather or see his remains until they're returned."
Richard Dean is familiar with the Korean war veterans memorial on Washington's national mall. He was an engineer during its construction and his grandfather, Colonel John Lovell, is one of the thousands the memorial pays tribute to.
Colonel Lovell's plane was shot down in December 1950 and he was captured and beaten by North Korean civilians.
Richard is part of the third generation of his family that's tried to find Colonel Lovell's remains and get them back to the US.
<<TAKE SOT: RICHARD DEAN, GRANDSON, COLONEL JOHN RAYMOND LOVELL>>
"He cared about the countries that he served in and I've heard that he helped get people get out of the communist [countries] and from behind the iron curtain.
"Finding the remains and bringing them back would mean the difference to our family. We would have the ability to have final closure, pay respects for his 23 years active duty service to our country."
At their summit in June, President Trump said Kim Jong-un made a commitment to return the remains of US military personnel. From 1996 to 2005, North Korea and the U.S. conducted dozens of joint searches for remains of American troops until Washington withdrew its personnel, citing concerns about Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program.
<<TAKE SOT: DONALD TRUMP, US PRESIDENT (SPEAKING JUNE 12)>>
"I asked for it today, and we got it. That was a very last minute. The remains will be coming back. They're going to start that process immediately. "
But that process has stalled in recent weeks. In the past Pyongyang has held out for cash compensation, and officials have often failed to show up for meetings with their US counterparts.
Mickey Bergman from the Richardson Center for Global Engagement has negotiated with North Korea before. He says the Trump administration must seize this opportunity.
<<TAKE SOT: Mickey Bergman, Richardson Center for Global Engagement>>
"If we cannot execute now the return of these remains I think it is because of a lack of urgency on the political leadership on our end, not on the North Korean end. And I hope that President Trump and Secretary Pompeo are genuinely feeling the urgency because the window of opportunity on these negotiations can close tomorrow."
Richard isn't expecting any news about his grandfather's remains soon - but looking out at the statues of American soldiers and the pool of remembrance here, he says he's supportive of talks with North Korea and wants to see lasting peace.
<<TAKE SOT: RICHARD DEAN, GRANDSON, COLONEL JOHN RAYMOND LOVELL>>
"They haven't been very honest and truthful in the past and I hope things change. The world needs to live in peace, that's the whole thing: live in peace and be able to live with everybody, whatever creed, colour, religion you are, we've got to be able to live as cohesive and enjoy life, it's very short."