Armistice anniversary to pay tribute to UN allies

Park Jong-wang, director general of MPVA

By Kang Seung-woo

South Korea commemorates the anniversary of the start of the three-year Korean War every June 25.

The Armistice Day on July 27 that ended the conflict is also observed worldwide among the members of the United Nations (U.N.) that sent forces.

The United States designated 2012 and 2013 as years to celebrate the participation of its servicemen in the U.N. forces that fought in the Korean War, while Canada is also celebrating Armistice Day as an anniversary, according to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA).

In line with these international moves, the National Assembly passed a law earlier this month to honor the participation of all U.N. troops.

“Thus far, the Korean War anniversary has been observed every June 25, but never marked Armistice Day to thank the U.N. forces for halting the war,” Park Jong-wang, director general of MPVA, said in a written interview.

“Taking advantage of the 60th anniversary of signing the cease-fire agreement on Saturday, Korea will be able to hold the first official appreciation event, organized by the government, for the war participating countries.”

According to the MPVA, Korea has invited government representatives from 27 countries ― 21 U.N. forces members, five Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission and Ireland ― to the event to be accompanied by President Park Geun-hye.

In addition, there will be subsidiary events for war veterans to include paying tribute to fallen soldiers in the Korean National Cemetery in Seoul and attending a “Thank You Banquet,” hosted by Prime Minister Jung Hong-won. They will also visit the U.N. Memorial Cemetery in Busan.

Park said that there will be some special guests to honor the event, among them Clifton Truman Daniel, the oldest grandson of former U.S. President Harry Truman, Jens-Halvard Bratz and Christian-Lavritz Bratz, great-grandsons of Trygve Halvdan Lie, the first secretary-general of the U.N., and Pongphiphat Chomanan, son of former Thai Prime Minister Kriangsak Chamanan.

The U.S. President and the U.N. secretary-general are credited with swift decisions to dispatch the U.S. and the U.N. troops to the Korean War, while the Thai prime minister fought in the conflict.

Park said that the ceremony to mark the Korean War armistice will not just be limited to a Korean celebration because many countries engaged in the war plan to hold commemorative events.

“The United States will mark the 60th anniversary of the armistice at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington and U.S. President Barack Obama will deliver a speech,” he said.

“In addition, President Park will send a delegation including Saenuri Party lawmaker Kim Jung-hoon, who chairs the National Policy Committee of the National Assembly, and Gen. Jung Seung-jo, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.”

He added that 19 countries involved in the war will hold a total of 66 events to honor the anniversary in accordance with each nation’s schedule.

He believes that Korea will be able to make the most of the event to thank the U.N. troops for their service in keeping peace on the Korean Peninsula and show them the war-stricken nation’s development.

“The 60th anniversary has significance in that Korea could be born again after working together and recovering from the war on the back of help from the U.N. allies’ efforts to maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula,” he said.