WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence welcomed the return of the remains of U.S. soldiers who had been killed in the Korean War in Hawaii Wednesday, saying his country will work more on the repatriation of war dead.

Speaking at a carrying ceremony at Hawaii's Hickam Air Force Base in the afternoon, Pence said the remains' arrival was a sign of progress after the historic Singapore meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

"I know that President Trump is grateful that Chairman Kim has kept his word," Pence said.

He said it was just the first step. "Our work will not be completed."

Kim agreed with Trump to repatriate the remains of U.S. troops during June's summit, the first-ever meeting between a top DPRK leader and a sitting U.S. president.

Military officials from the DPRK and the United States held general-level talks on July 15-16 at the inter-Korean border village of Panmunjom over the handover of remains.