By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter
President Lee Myung-bak plans to invite the leaders of 21 nations, which fought alongside South Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War, to Seoul in 2010 for a summit on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the fratricidal conflict, officials said Monday.
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs is preparing the plan as part of programs to commemorate the anniversary, the officials said.
The summit, if realized, is expected to serve as an opportunity not only to deliver a message of peace to the world but also express gratitude to the foreign nations' participation in the war and show the international community how South Korea has developed itself from the ashes of the war with the assistance of its allies, they said.
``A task force for the 60th anniversary of the Korean War is considering inviting the foreign heads of state in June 2010 for talks, though details have yet to be fixed,'' a ministry official told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity.
If the landmark summit is held, participating world leaders will be able to discuss peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and adopt a ``Korean Peninsula Peace Declaration'' at the end of the gathering, he said.
The government is also considering inviting the leaders of enemies during the war ― North Korea, China and Russia ― modeled after the 60th anniversary of D-Day and the battle of Normandy in France in 2004, the official said.
At that time, about 20 leaders from the allied nations that fought against the German-led axis powers during World War II, including the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China, participated in a commemorative ceremony with their former enemies, drawing the attention of the global community.
In particular, the leader of Germany attended the ceremony at the invitation of the organizers. The ceremony was largely regarded as a memorable event sending a message of reconciliation and peace to the world.
The Korean War, often called the ``Forgotten War,'' broke out on June 25, 1950, when North Korean troops invaded South Korea, crossing the 38th parallel, the line dividing the two Koreas.
Sixteen countries dispatched troops under the United Nations' flag to help South Korea fight the communist North backed by Chinese troops. They were the United States, Britain, Turkey, Thailand, South Africa, the Philippines, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, France, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Ethiopia.
Denmark, Italy, Norway, India and Sweden sent medical units to support the U.N. forces.
The three-year war resulted in a devastating death toll with at least two million Korean civilians, some 400,000 South Korean troops and up to 1.5 million communist troops being killed. About 36,000 U.S. and 1,000 British soldiers lost their lives.
Despite the ceasefire signed on July 27, 1953, the still mined inter-Korean border is watched over by thousands of troops and continues to bristle with armament, including hundreds of artillery pieces.
gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr
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