UN Commander: "Inter-Korean Relations Uncertain... Armistice Agreement Must Be Respected"

UN Commander Robert Abrams at Panmunjom Armistice Ceremony
"Last year's optimistic mood has shifted to a somewhat uncertain state"

Robert Abrams, Commander of the United States Forces Korea and Commander of the United Nations Command, is delivering a commemorative speech at the 67th anniversary ceremony of the Korean Armistice Agreement held at the Freedom House in Panmunjom, Paju, Gyeonggi Province on the 27th.
Photo by Joint Press Corps
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Ministry of National Defense Joint Press Corps · Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu]Robert Abrams, Commander of the United Nations Command (also Commander of United States Forces Korea), said on the 27th, "We have an obligation to comply with the Armistice Agreement until our true goal of lasting peace is achieved."

Commander Abrams said at the 67th anniversary ceremony of the Korean War Armistice Agreement held at the 'Freedom House' on the southern side of Panmunjom on the same day, "One unchanging fact since 67 years ago is that nothing contributes more to the safety of Korea than the international community's will to implement the Armistice Agreement."

He added, "Last year on this day (the 27th), we witnessed a reduction in inter-Korean tensions and the atmosphere was optimistic, but today the atmosphere has changed," evaluating that "the optimistic atmosphere of last year has somewhat shifted to an uncertain state."

He continued, "The fact that we are at Freedom House in front of the Military Demarcation Line shows why the Armistice Agreement was signed 67 years ago," adding, "It stopped the very costly price paid in war."

Commander Abrams said, "The multinational forces worked to answer the call of duty to protect the Korean people during the Korean War," and "After 67 years, we reaffirm the United Nations Command's determination to achieve the goal of lasting peace."

Kang In-soon, Colonel of the Republic of Korea Army and Chief Representative of the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission, which monitors compliance with the Armistice Agreement, introduced, "The preamble of the Armistice Agreement states that the agreement was signed to ensure the complete cessation of hostilities and all armed actions in Korea until a final peaceful settlement is achieved."

He continued, "Our first task is the effort for a final peaceful settlement," citing "the April 27 Inter-Korean Summit and the September 19 Military Agreement as representative examples."

Colonel Kang emphasized, "Recent developments such as the US-North Korea relations regarding denuclearization and sanctions, and North Korea's demolition of the Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, have shown that there are still many crises on the road to lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula," and "Our task is to maintain the Armistice Agreement to stop mutual hostile acts."

Las Olof Corneliuson, Swedish Representative of the United Nations Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC), said, "In the spirit of the Armistice Agreement, we are easing military tensions in the Demilitarized Zone through bilateral and multilateral agreements," and "As we have done for the past 67 years, the Swiss and Swedish NNSC representatives will maintain a permanent duty system."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.