Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

62nd ceremony held for ceasefire agreement of 6·25 Korean War

and Day of the UN Forces Engagement

 

 

 

“I hope North Korea opens up the future of South and North Korea’s co-prosperity through exchange and cooperation, not through a nuclear weapon program,” said Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn on July 27.

 

In his address at the ceremony for the ceasefire agreement of the 6·25 Korean War and Day of the UN Forces Engagement, held at Olympic Park, Prime Minister Hwang said we can have peace and prosperity if North Korea gives up its nuclear program.

 

He especially put emphasis on cooperation in various areas that would follow such as improvement of the quality of life for North Koreans and the establishment of infrastructure for economic development.

 

Mentioning the recent movie, “Battle of Yeonpyeong,” he said, “I was torn apart with sorrow watching those precious young soldiers who were killed to protect our sea. Although it has been many years since the ceasefire agreement, there is still an uneasy peace that remains around the Korean Peninsula.”

 

He also emphasized our firm reaction against any provocation of North Korea based on a strong security posture, saying that North Korea’s nuclear weapons threaten us and world peace as well.

 

Finally, he added, “We were able to survive a great crisis with the UN’s help, and now we’re actively participating in bringing peace and prosperity to the global village. Home and overseas war veterans’ noble spirit of sacrifice builds on this success, therefore, the Korean government and people will make more efforts to honor their great spirit.”

 

Meanwhile, this central ceremony was held by the government under the subject of “Korea, we have protected together and go together,” and was attended by around 3,000 people - major government personnel, including Prime Minister Hwang, Korean War veterans, diplomatic delegations of combatant nations, citizens and military soldiers.

 

At this ceremony, four veterans of the UN forces, including Hector Cafferata, 86, who fought at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in Hamgyeongnam-do as a U.S. Marine, received the Teaguk Order of Military Merit.

 

Winton Marshall, 96, the reserve lieutenant general, was awarded the Order of Civil Merit for the Day of the UN Forces Engagement. He engaged in the Korean War as a commander of a U.S. Air Force fighter and made a contribution to the modernization of the Korean Air Force.

 

There was a memorial performance that showed the UN forces’ sacrifice through Incheon Landing Operation and the Battle of Chosin Reservoir.

 

And the government invited 180 war veterans from 21 countries and their 170 descendants to praise their contribution and sacrifice on the day of the ceremony.

 

The UN Command also held a ceremony to mark the ceasefire agreement at Panmunjeom in the afternoon of the same day, supervised by Lieutenant General Terence O’Shaughnessy, the commander of the 7th U.S. Air Force as well as a deputy commander of the UN command.

 

Fifty people, including deputy commander of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Park Sun-woo, American Ambassador Mark Lippert, a UNC delegation and ambassadors of 6·25 War combatants attended this event and had a time to honor the UN war veterans’ sacrifice and 62-year effort that member nations of the UN have made to maintain the peaceful ceasefire agreement.

 

Deputy commander of the UNC O’Shaughnessy who supervised the event said, “The UN protected the freedom of Korea and stopped roaring gunshots through the ceasefire agreement 62 years ago. To honor 180,000 fallen soldiers’ sacrifice, we have been putting in a great deal of effort to keep the agreement.”

 

“Based on this, Korea is enjoying unprecedented prosperity and has become a strong member of various international organizations. The UNC will continue to support the security of Korea,” he continued. And the chief delegate of the Military Armistice Commission (MAC), Major General Jang Kwang-hyun, expressed his gratitude to the war veterans and said that he hoped North Korea throws off its reckless and aggressive attitude and returns to the MAC negotiation table for peaceful actions.

 

General Urs Gerber, Swiss delegate of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC), which is the third axis of maintaining the ceasefire agreement with the UNC and MAC, said, “NNSC plays an important role to secure reliability and justification of the ceasefire agreement. Like we’ve done for more than 62 years, we will make our best effort to complete future missions successfully.”

 

On July 27, 1953, at Panmunjeom, the UN entered into the ceasefire agreement for the interruption of 6·25 War and the complete stop of all the hostile acts and armed activities in Korea until a peaceful solution finally is reached. The Korean Peninsula is the only country in the world that has continued a ceasefire agreement for more than 60 years.

 

 
By Seok-Jong, Lee < seokjong@dema.mil.kr >
By Chul-Hwan, Kim < droid001@dema.mil.kr >
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