ID :
21400
Fri, 09/26/2008 - 11:38
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/21400
The shortlink copeid
Korean War veterans from 8 countries to mark foundation of Korean military
SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- Over 200 Korean War veterans from eight countries were due here this week on a revisit program that has invited over 26,000 veterans back to the country since its launch in 1975, program organizers said Friday.
The visit by 207 veterans also comes as Seoul will celebrate the 60th anniversary
of the foundation of its armed forces Wednesday.
The veterans from the United States, Britain, Turkey, Belgium, Norway, the
Netherlands, Sweden and the Philippines will arrive here Friday and Saturday for
a one-day excursion next week to the world's last Cold War frontier dividing the
two Koreas, according to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.
A group of 30 U.S. veterans will also attend a meeting with some 60 American and
South Korean high school students during the group's tour to the demilitarized
zone Tuesday.
The veteran-student meeting is jointly organized by U.S. Forces Korea and the
Korea Veterans Association to help raise the students' awareness of war.
"Launched in 1975, the revisit program seeks to introduce today's Korea, which
has risen from the ashes of war to become one of the world's economic powers, and
to explain Korea's current security situation to the war veterans and show our
appreciation to them," the veterans affairs ministry said in a press release.
The veterans, along with 30 other disabled veterans on a separate revisit program
by the Korea Disabled Veterans Organization, will also attend the government
ceremony, marking the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean military,
which will include a large street parade of over 2,000 service members, veterans
and a number of the country's latest weapons systems.
Over 1.9 million foreign soldiers fought as allied U.N. forces in the Korean War,
nearly 180,000 of whom were killed in action.
South and North Koreas still technically remain at war as the 1950-53 war ended
only with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
The visit by 207 veterans also comes as Seoul will celebrate the 60th anniversary
of the foundation of its armed forces Wednesday.
The veterans from the United States, Britain, Turkey, Belgium, Norway, the
Netherlands, Sweden and the Philippines will arrive here Friday and Saturday for
a one-day excursion next week to the world's last Cold War frontier dividing the
two Koreas, according to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.
A group of 30 U.S. veterans will also attend a meeting with some 60 American and
South Korean high school students during the group's tour to the demilitarized
zone Tuesday.
The veteran-student meeting is jointly organized by U.S. Forces Korea and the
Korea Veterans Association to help raise the students' awareness of war.
"Launched in 1975, the revisit program seeks to introduce today's Korea, which
has risen from the ashes of war to become one of the world's economic powers, and
to explain Korea's current security situation to the war veterans and show our
appreciation to them," the veterans affairs ministry said in a press release.
The veterans, along with 30 other disabled veterans on a separate revisit program
by the Korea Disabled Veterans Organization, will also attend the government
ceremony, marking the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean military,
which will include a large street parade of over 2,000 service members, veterans
and a number of the country's latest weapons systems.
Over 1.9 million foreign soldiers fought as allied U.N. forces in the Korean War,
nearly 180,000 of whom were killed in action.
South and North Koreas still technically remain at war as the 1950-53 war ended
only with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
