By Lee Min-hyung
South Korea commemorated the 68th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War, Monday, amid hopes for the declaration of an end to the technical state of war this year.
Thousands of ranking political and military officials paid respect to war veterans by joining the ceremony held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul. They include United States Forces Korea (USFK) commander Vincent Brooks, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon and Defense Minister Song Young-moo.
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has organized the annual event to pay a special tribute to those who sacrificed their lives during the war.
But this year's event came amid growing expectations over the possible end of the ongoing state of war, as Seoul and Pyongyang agreed to declare the end of the war no later than the end of this year during a historic summit this April between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
"A sense of fear of the possible outbreak of war had gripped the Korean Peninsula until late last year, but now the two Koreas are discussing bringing lasting peace here," Lee said in an opening remark for the event.
"The inter-Korean summits, held twice this year, and the first-ever Washington-Pyongyang summit played a crucial role in establishing momentum for peace and denuclearization on the peninsula."
His remark came against the backdrop of the rare peace signals from the North which has in recent months pledged to bring complete denuclearization on the peninsula by scrapping nuclear facilities and stopping any military provocations.
South Korea commemorated the 68th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War, Monday, amid hopes for the declaration of an end to the technical state of war this year.
Thousands of ranking political and military officials paid respect to war veterans by joining the ceremony held at Jamsil Indoor Stadium in Seoul. They include United States Forces Korea (USFK) commander Vincent Brooks, Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon and Defense Minister Song Young-moo.
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has organized the annual event to pay a special tribute to those who sacrificed their lives during the war.
But this year's event came amid growing expectations over the possible end of the ongoing state of war, as Seoul and Pyongyang agreed to declare the end of the war no later than the end of this year during a historic summit this April between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
"A sense of fear of the possible outbreak of war had gripped the Korean Peninsula until late last year, but now the two Koreas are discussing bringing lasting peace here," Lee said in an opening remark for the event.
"The inter-Korean summits, held twice this year, and the first-ever Washington-Pyongyang summit played a crucial role in establishing momentum for peace and denuclearization on the peninsula."
His remark came against the backdrop of the rare peace signals from the North which has in recent months pledged to bring complete denuclearization on the peninsula by scrapping nuclear facilities and stopping any military provocations.
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