Yoon vows 'peace through strength' on 73rd Korean War anniversary

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

National

Sun, December 3, 2023 | 20:04

Defense

Yoon vows 'peace through strength' on 73rd Korean War anniversary

Posted : 2023-06-25 17:01

Updated : 2023-06-26 09:41

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, center, waves the Korean flag with veterans of the Korean War and other attendees during an event marking the 73rd anniversary of the war's outbreak at eastern Seoul's Jangchung Gymnasium, Sunday. Yonhap

President honors heroes who died defending freedom against communist forces

By Jung Min-ho

Marking the 73rd anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War on Sunday, President Yoon Suk Yeol said only "strong power" can guarantee peace on the peninsula and honored those who died while defending South Korea against communist forces.

"We should never forget the tears and blood of those who participated in the war and their families. We should remember the meaning of all of the blood that was shed by those in uniform, which made freedom in the Republic of Korea possible," Yoon said in a message posted on social media.

"Only strong power can guarantee true peace. We will defend the free Republic of Korea resolutely and contribute to bringing prosperity and freedom to the citizens of the world so that the sacrifice of the heroes who defended (South Korea's) freedom against the invasion of the communist forces will not be in vain."

President Yoon Suk Yeol signs a guest book, with first lady Kim Keon Hee watching by his side, at a special exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance in the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, Sunday. Yonhap

He expressed particular gratitude to former U.S. President Harry Truman, who sent more than 1.7 million American soldiers. Fighting alongside those from 15 other countries under the U.N. flag, they helped save South Korea, which was, at one point, on the verge of losing its sovereignty to the North. After Chinese "voluntary" military forces intervened to help its communist ally, the war eventually ended in a ceasefire on July 27, 1953.

The other countries to send combat troops to participate in the conflict were the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Turkey, France, the Netherlands, Greece, Thailand, the Philippines, Colombia, Belgium, Ethiopia and Luxembourg.

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Echoing the president's message, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said South Korea's relations with "countries that share free democracy and other universal values," will remain the key to its security policy.

"The government will protect our security with strong self-defense, instead of relying on the North's goodwill," Han said during an event marking the anniversary at eastern Seoul's Jangchung Gymnasium. "President Yoon Suk Yeol's state visit to the U.S. in April strengthened our 70-year alliance as a nuclear-based one."

Having secured a nonpermanent seat on the U.N. Security Council for the 2024-25 term, South Korea now has an opportunity to make much progress in that effort, he added.

Their statements come at a time when South Korea's two political blocs are strengthening their respective visions for peace, with the opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) criticizing the Yoon administration for "playing its part" in fueling tensions by taking a confrontational position. "The government should manage the inter-Korean relations through diplomatic efforts such as dialogue," said Rep. Park Sung-joon, a spokesman for the party.

Terms used in the statements, such as "communist" and "free democracy," also suggest key differences in the parties' foreign policy strategies for peace.

In less diplomatic terms, Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, chairman of the governing People Power Party, denounced the liberal politicians for their conciliatory policy toward North Korea and its allies such as China.

"I'm reflecting on the day the North Korean communist forces invaded the Republic of Korea with the unwavering support of the Soviet Union and China," Kim said in social media post. "Despite this, some still deny the obvious fact that North Korea and the Soviet Union were responsible for starting the Korean War, with radical (communist) sympathizers even regurgitating the North Korean view (of the war) to defend it over its responsibility and war crimes."

Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, left, chairman of the ruling People Power Party, and Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, attend an event marking the 73rd anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War at eastern Seoul's Jangchung Gymnasium, Sunday. Yonhap

Pyongyang officially maintains that it was the South that provoked the war and that the U.S. had a plan to conquer the whole peninsula.

Repeating these claims in Rodong Sinmun, the mouthpiece of the ruling Workers' Party, North Korea blamed the U.S. for the tragedy and said its "revenge-seeking" people will never forget it.

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, leader of the DPK, attended the ceremony along with other party officials, but did not issue an official statement.

mj6c2@koreatimes.co.kr