The bodies of more than 400 Chinese soldiers who fought in the Korean War are set to return home on Friday. The move follows an offer made by South Korean President Park Geun-hye during meetings with President Xi Jinping last summer. CCTV correspondent Shane Hahm reports from Seoul, where he describes how the former foes are now making amends over the past.

The remains of 437 Chinese veterans who died during the Korean War are finally returning home. They have rested in a cemetery reserved for enemy troops in South Korea for more than six decades.

"This event is a milestone for South Korea and China to heal past war wounds and move friendly relations one step forward." said Moon Sang-Gyun, South Korean Defense Ministry.

Since December last year, South Korean officials have worked painstakingly to unearth the bodies and prepare for their return. The remains have been carefully wrapped and placed into traditional Chinese coffins. South Korea has returned the remains of Chinese soldiers before. 42 were sent back in the 1980s, and another was returned in 1997, but no repatriations have occurred since then.

In past instances, the bodies were returned over the inter-Korean border at Panmunjom and into DPRK control.

Relations between China and South Korea have flourished since the two sides established diplomatic ties in the early 90s. But experts say this latest gesture by Seoul to hand over the remains directly to Beijing symbolizes a new era of bilateral relations, especially when it comes to cooperating on regional issues, like the DPRK nuclear program.

"For peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in North-east Asia, cooperation with China is needed now more than ever. There is great significance in the South Korean government offering to repatriate Chinese soldiers. I believe this will lead to meaningful outcomes in the development of South Korea-China relations." said Prof. Yang Moo-Jin, University of North Korean Studies.

The remains of the Chinese soldiers will be put on a plane and return home on Friday, where they’ll be laid to rest at a cemetery in the city of Shenyang. China and South Korea fought as enemies during the Korean War. But now, the two countries are able to work together, and these fallen Chinese war veterans can finally rest in peace.