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th Korean and US officials at the border village of Panmunjom, ending days of waiting for the bereaved family of the dead man. The White House says it appreciates what it calls the humanitarian gesture by the North Koreans, but adds that it hopes the surviving pilot will be home by Christmas. Standing in the chill December air at Panmunjom border a North Korean soldier stands guard over the casket that contains the body of the American helicopter pilot. A mixed UN delegation then inspects the box and its contents to check that they are the remains of Chief Warrant Officer David Hilemon. After this the casket is then handed over to a guard of honour. The guard symbolically places a United Nations flag over the box, a reminder that Hilemon was serving as part of the UN mission in Korea. There was also a moment of prayer for the dead pilot. Among those gathered was US senator Bill Richardson who has been involved in the negotiations for the release of the airman's body. Hilemon and copilot Bobby Hall were flying their OH-58C helicopter when it strayed into North Korean air space. The North Koreans say they shot it down. Hall survived, but still remains captive with the North Koreans. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives ​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/ You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/d1bd591f76942cb11dab561065130f9d