Persons missing in military action

Service personnel who are missing during a military action and have not been confirmed as dead nor as prisoners of war are listed as missing in action.

Some 78,000 American in World War II, 8,000 during the Korean War and nearly 2,400 in the Vietnam War are considered as missing in action although officially listed as dead. In 1993 the fate of USA soldiers in Korea and Vietnam was an issue blocking normalization of relations between the USA and those countries. The former Soviet Union listed 313 people as missing in action in Afghanistan.

1. Missing persons

1. Non-combat death of soldiers

1. Uncertainty of death of missing persons
2. Non-recognition of foreign governments
3. Failure to repatriate human remains

1. Military desertion
2. Friendly fire
3. Forced disappearance of persons
4. Cease-fire violations

1. Prisoners of war
2. Prison deaths
3. Inadequate military capability

1. Missing
2. Inactivity
3. Action