ID :
67736
Thu, 06/25/2009 - 20:41
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/67736
The shortlink copeid
Lee reconfirms S. Korea's commitment to int'l community
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak said Thursday South Korea will
continue to increase its support for the international community to repay its
"debt" from the Korean War (1950-1953).
"I wonder what would have happened to us if we had lost the war when it broke out
59 years ago. We were able to defend our free democracy because of our brave
armed forces and troops from 16 countries who came to a small, poor nation that
they did not even know," the president said in a ceremony held in Seoul in
appreciation of Korean War veterans.
The ceremony, held at a Seoul hotel, was attended by some 700 officials and
Korean War veterans and their families.
"South Korea has become a powerful, economically strong nation in just half a
century. Some might call it a miracle, but I believe it was possible because of
blood and sweat of our people and the support of our international friends in
times of our need," Lee said.
The president said the country is now trying to repay its debt to the
international community, noting thousands of South Korean volunteers go overseas
every year under the World Friends Korea program and that the country is steadily
expanding its official development assistance despite the global economic crisis.
"South Korea is trying to fulfill its role in various fields of the international
community," he said.
South Korea has been under increased threat of hostility from North Korea since
the communist nation conducted its second nuclear test on May 25.
Lee said his country is fully ready to counter any type of threat or provocation.
"The South Korean government is firmly determined to defend the lives and wealth
of its people and will do its utmost to find the remains of troops killed in the
Korean War," the president said.
The three-year war broke out with the North's invasion of the South, but
Pyongyang still claims the South and the United States began the aggression
first.
The war ended with a ceasefire, leaving the divided Koreas still technically at war.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, June 25 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Myung-bak said Thursday South Korea will
continue to increase its support for the international community to repay its
"debt" from the Korean War (1950-1953).
"I wonder what would have happened to us if we had lost the war when it broke out
59 years ago. We were able to defend our free democracy because of our brave
armed forces and troops from 16 countries who came to a small, poor nation that
they did not even know," the president said in a ceremony held in Seoul in
appreciation of Korean War veterans.
The ceremony, held at a Seoul hotel, was attended by some 700 officials and
Korean War veterans and their families.
"South Korea has become a powerful, economically strong nation in just half a
century. Some might call it a miracle, but I believe it was possible because of
blood and sweat of our people and the support of our international friends in
times of our need," Lee said.
The president said the country is now trying to repay its debt to the
international community, noting thousands of South Korean volunteers go overseas
every year under the World Friends Korea program and that the country is steadily
expanding its official development assistance despite the global economic crisis.
"South Korea is trying to fulfill its role in various fields of the international
community," he said.
South Korea has been under increased threat of hostility from North Korea since
the communist nation conducted its second nuclear test on May 25.
Lee said his country is fully ready to counter any type of threat or provocation.
"The South Korean government is firmly determined to defend the lives and wealth
of its people and will do its utmost to find the remains of troops killed in the
Korean War," the president said.
The three-year war broke out with the North's invasion of the South, but
Pyongyang still claims the South and the United States began the aggression
first.
The war ended with a ceasefire, leaving the divided Koreas still technically at war.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
