외교부

Ambassador Hubbard, Dr. Kissinger, and distinguished guests; in particular, Korean War Veterans who have all come a very long way,

I cannot possibly welcome you enough or thank you enough. Your mere presence here is a distinct proof of profound friendship between the peoples of the ROK and the US.

Fifty some years ago you came to this country as friends in our needs and proved yourselves valient friends in your deeds. What we are celebrating today is a direct outcome of those brave deeds of yours in the war we fought side by side for a common cause. Therefore, I am greatly honored to join you here today.

The Armistice Agreement, although originally intended as a temporary measure, practically put an end to over three years of war and devastation on this land.  Ever since, it has been instrumental in securing peace on the Korean peninsula and in North East Asia for the past half century, thus enabling the freedom and prosperity that the Korean people are currently enjoying.

So, dear Veterans, look around you. What we are today stands on what you did back then.

I take this opportunity to express the most sincere appreciation of my government and the Korean people to War Veterans and other friends of ours for what they have done to protect freedom and peace in this country. It is our firm resolve not to let what has been built on their sacrifices for the last fifty years be challenged and to redouble our efforts to establish permanent peace and more prominent prosperity in Korea.

I hope you all live long and prosper till you see the day when we could celebrate a peaceful end of the Armistice regime.

I ask you to join me in raising our glasses to all Korean War Veterans.  Here is to an everlasting friendship, to the continuing peace, to freedom and prosperity in this part of the world!

Cheers!