President Yoon Suk Yeol on Sunday lauded the sacrifice of fallen troops from the 1950-53 Korean War and called on the nation to remember their "bloodshed uniforms" on the 73rd anniversary of the war's outbreak.
In a Facebook post, Yoon said the "blood and tears shed by the war veterans and their families shall never be forgotten," stressing that "only strong power can guarantee real peace."
He also vowed to further defend South Korea and contribute in bringing prosperity and freedom to the people so that the "sacrifices of the heroes who fought against the invasion of the communist forces do not go in vain."
Yoon noted that 1.95 million U.N. soldiers, including 1.78 million U.S. soldiers, came "rushing to protect" the freedom of South Koreans during the Korean War.
Later in the day, Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee visited an exhibition marking the 70th anniversary of the South Korea-U.S. alliance.
The Korean War broke out on June 25, 1950, when tank-led North Korean troops invaded South Korea. The United States and 20 other allied countries fought on the side of South Korea under the U.N. flag.
Around 140,000 South Korean troops were killed in action, with some 1.95 million U.N. troops from 22 countries, including the United States, Britain, Canada and Turkey, participating in the war.
The two Koreas are still technically at war, as the war ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty.
Source: Yonhap News Agency