KOREAN WAR-ANNIVERSARY/SOUTH KOREA South Korea commemorates 62nd anniversary of armistice

Record ID: 146220

  • Title: KOREAN WAR-ANNIVERSARY/SOUTH KOREA South Korea commemorates 62nd anniversary of armistice
  • Date: 27th July 2015
  • Summary: PANMUNJOM, DEMILITARIZED ZONE, SOUTH KOREA (JULY 27, 2015) (AGENCY POOL) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEPUTY COMMANDER OF UNITED NATIONS COMMAND (UNC) IN SOUTH KOREA AND UNITED STATES FORCES KOREA (UNFK), U.S. LIEUTENANT GENERAL, TERRENCE J. O'SHAUGHNESSY, SAYING: "Today, the armistice reflects an enduring commitment to the International
  • Embargoed: 11th August 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA86AYL31Z09AKF2SV4VK9NKO7X
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PLEASE REFER TO 26/7 7001 KOREAN WAR-ANNIVERSARY/FILE FOR FILE MATERIAL
    South Korea commemorated the 62nd armistice anniversary of the Korean War on Monday (July 27).
    The armistice, signed on July 27 in 1953, halted fighting between U.S-led U.N forces backing South Korea, and Communist Chinese and North Korean troops.
    However, it has never been converted into a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreans in a technical state of war.
    South Korea's Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said about 3,000 people, including Korean War veterans from South Korea and the U.S., attended at a ceremony in Seoul on Monday.
    At the event, South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn urged Pyongyang to give up its nuclear programme.
    "North Korea's nuclear programme threatens South Korea and the international society. The Republic of Korea (South Korea) will deal sternly with any North Korean provocation through a strong security position," Hwang said.
    North Korea is heavily sanctioned by the United States, European Union and the United Nations for procuring equipment related to its ongoing nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
    A South Korean war veteran said reunification of the two Koreas would help the North Korean people.
    "North Korean people are dying of hunger. It cannot be solved by the nuclear programme. South Korea and the international community should cooperate to solve this problem. If the two Koreas were to reunite, it could contribute to the international society, like our president said," 87-year-old South Korean war veteran, Lee Chong-yeol, said.
    However, a U.S. war veteran, Richard Howell, did not think reunification would happen.
    "I don't feel they will ever be united again, no. They are too far behind, the South Koreans are too energetic. They need a new government in the North Korean government, the (South) Korean government is so much progressed. They look into the future, they plan for the future, and they work toward the future so I'm impressed with what South Korea has done over the last 60 years," the 83-year-old said.
    Later on Monday, the United Nations Command in South Korea also marked the armistice anniversary in the truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).
    "Today, the armistice reflects an enduring commitment to the International community to preserve peace and stability. Its maintenance continues to be a complex task, especially when noting the provocative actions of North Korea. The nation's pursuit of nuclear weapons, long-range ballistic missiles and proliferation of weapons and violation of U.N Security Council resolutions continue to threaten stability in this region and in the world," Deputy Commander of United States Forces Korea (UNFK), Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy said.
    At Panmujon, which divides North and South Korea, North Korean soldiers, who usually keep to their posts, were seen standing near the demarcation line and taking photos of officials on Monday.
    Despite its name the DMZ is one of the most heavily militarized and fortified borders in the world.
    North Korean state media on Monday (July 27) said that the armistice marked the defeat of the United States and protected the sovereignty of the communist country under founder Kim Il Sung.
    The United Nations Command (UNC), led by U.S. forces, has about 30,000 troops on the Korean peninsula supporting South Korea's 650,000 soldiers.
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