Yoon on the 70th Anniversary of the Armistice: "Korea Stands on the Sacrifice of UN Forces... Will Not Forget"

Attending the 70th Anniversary Ceremony of the Armistice Agreement
Yoon: "Will Strive for Global Freedom, Peace, and Prosperity"

President Yoon Suk-yeol expressed gratitude to the United Nations allied countries on the 27th, marking the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Armistice Agreement, stating, "Today’s Republic of Korea stands on the sacrifices and dedication of the UN forces, on blood-stained military uniforms."

That evening, President Yoon attended the 'UN Forces Participation Day and 70th Anniversary of the Armistice Agreement Commemoration Ceremony' held at the Busan Haeundae Cinema Center, where he said, "Thanks to the sacrifices and dedication of the UN forces, we were able to protect freedom from the communist totalitarian forces."

President Yoon mentioned that 1.95 million troops from 22 UN countries participated, with about 41,000 casualties including 37,000 US soldiers, and 110,000 wounded or captured, emphasizing, "Seventy-three years ago, countless young people from the free world came running under 'one UN flag' to protect the freedom of a country they did not even know, the Republic of Korea. The UN veterans are our true heroes who gave everything to defend freedom at the most prime of their lives."

On the 70th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice Agreement, President Yoon Suk-yeol received a salute from Ethiopian war veteran Basha Oldeserase at the UN Forces Participation Day and Armistice Agreement 70th Anniversary Ceremony held on the 27th at the outdoor theater of Busan Cinema Center in Haeundae-gu.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

He continued, "The Republic of Korea will never forget the gratitude we owe to our allied countries who risked their lives to come to our aid in times of hardship," promising, "We will never forget your noble sacrifices."

President Yoon reflected on the significance, saying, "Even now, 70 years after the signing of the Armistice Agreement in 1953, the UN Command continues to play a crucial role in maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula and protecting the Republic of Korea."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He stated, "The UN Command is a platform that enables our allied countries to provide immediate military support under the UN flag in case of emergencies on the Korean Peninsula and automatically secures seven rear bases essential for conducting war," adding, "Its significance is special as it demonstrates the strong will of the international community to stand in solidarity for freedom."

Regarding the UN Memorial Park he visited before the ceremony, he again expressed gratitude, saying, "I pay deep respect and commemorate the souls of the UN veterans who gave their lives for the free Republic of Korea."

He also reiterated the justification for hosting the 2030 Busan Expo. President Yoon explained, "Busan, with the help of the UN allied countries, has risen from the ashes of war to become a world-class maritime city and is now preparing to host the most successful World Expo in history."

In closing, President Yoon promised, "The Republic of Korea will stand in solidarity with free democratic countries and, with the ROK-US alliance as the core axis, will strive for freedom, peace, and prosperity not only in the Indo-Pacific region but throughout the world," pledging, "We will do our best to ensure that the values of freedom we have protected for 70 years continue."

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