ID :
37093
Tue, 12/23/2008 - 13:02
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/37093
The shortlink copeid
Seoul hopes to host 21-nation summit to mark Korean War anniversary
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's veterans' affairs ministry hopes to host a summit in 2010 involving the 21 nations that took part in the Korean War to mark the 60th anniversary of the start of the conflict, the ministry said Tuesday.
The proposal, however, has already tipped off a debate over how to conduct such
an event.
The plan comes under the ministry's new policy objectives for 2009, which will be
submitted to the presidential office for review on Wednesday.
"We are still reviewing the idea of inviting the heads of state from the 21
Korean War participant nations in 2010 as part of events to mark the 60th
anniversary of the war," an official at the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans
Ministry said, asking not to be identified.
The official noted, however, that nothing has yet been decided for sure.
The Korean War erupted on June 25, 1950, with a surprise invasion by communist
North Korea. The war ended three years later with an armistice, not a formal
peace agreement, leaving the two Koreas divided and still technically at war.
Ministry officials said another proposal would include the heads of state from
South Korea's enemies during the war -- North Korea, China and Russia -- making
it a 24-nation summit.
They noted that such a plan may be impossible, especially considering the current
chill in the inter-Korean relations.
Seoul normalized ties with both Beijing and Moscow over a decade ago and has
regularly held summits with the two countries, but has only held two summit
meetings with the North since the end of the war.
Both the defense and foreign ministries, which will likely be asked to arrange
the summit should Seoul decide to go ahead with the plan, are said to have
expressed opposition to hosting such an event to commemorate the war.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the largest consultative body of 21
economies in the region, holds annual summits which require months and even years
of planning just to set a timetable acceptable to all participants.
Troops from 16 nations -- including Australia, Britain, Canada, Turkey and the
United States -- fought for South Korea during the 1950-53 war while six nations,
including Japan and Italy, provided medical or transportation support to the
United Nations Command.
The proposal, however, has already tipped off a debate over how to conduct such
an event.
The plan comes under the ministry's new policy objectives for 2009, which will be
submitted to the presidential office for review on Wednesday.
"We are still reviewing the idea of inviting the heads of state from the 21
Korean War participant nations in 2010 as part of events to mark the 60th
anniversary of the war," an official at the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans
Ministry said, asking not to be identified.
The official noted, however, that nothing has yet been decided for sure.
The Korean War erupted on June 25, 1950, with a surprise invasion by communist
North Korea. The war ended three years later with an armistice, not a formal
peace agreement, leaving the two Koreas divided and still technically at war.
Ministry officials said another proposal would include the heads of state from
South Korea's enemies during the war -- North Korea, China and Russia -- making
it a 24-nation summit.
They noted that such a plan may be impossible, especially considering the current
chill in the inter-Korean relations.
Seoul normalized ties with both Beijing and Moscow over a decade ago and has
regularly held summits with the two countries, but has only held two summit
meetings with the North since the end of the war.
Both the defense and foreign ministries, which will likely be asked to arrange
the summit should Seoul decide to go ahead with the plan, are said to have
expressed opposition to hosting such an event to commemorate the war.
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the largest consultative body of 21
economies in the region, holds annual summits which require months and even years
of planning just to set a timetable acceptable to all participants.
Troops from 16 nations -- including Australia, Britain, Canada, Turkey and the
United States -- fought for South Korea during the 1950-53 war while six nations,
including Japan and Italy, provided medical or transportation support to the
United Nations Command.
