US Statement to Mark Korean War`s 60th Anniversary

U.S. President Barack Obama will reportedly review either a proclamation or statement on stressing the importance of the bilateral alliance with South Korea to mark the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War.

The U.S. Defense Department and the U.S. House of Representatives will hold separate events to mark the occasion and related ceremonies will be held Thursday across Washington.

A diplomatic source in Washington said Sunday that Obama is considering a proclamation or statement to reflect on the meaning of the war’s 60th anniversary and highlight the bilateral alliance. “President Obama issued a statement July 27 last year to mark the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War, but this will be the first U.S. presidential statement or proclamation to mark the war’s outbreak,” the source said.

While adopting resolutions to mark the anniversary last week, figures in the U.S. Congress urged the president to issue a separate statement, but their proposal was reportedly omitted from resolutions since the Obama administration is reviewing doing so on its own.

Both houses of Congress separately adopted resolutions June 16 and 17, and will adopt a joint resolution this week. The resolution will be sent to the White House for Obama’s signature.

At 9 a.m. Thursday, the Defense Department will hold an official event to mark the anniversary at the Pentagon. The first event at the U.S. government level will be led by either U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates or Deputy State Secretary James Steinberg and joined by congressional members and Korean War veterans.

South Korean Ambassador to the U.S. Han Duck-soo will make the keynote address at the event.

At 11 a.m. the same day, a commemorative event will be held at the main hall of the House of Representatives led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Leading congressmen, including those who participated in the war, and other diplomatic delegates will attend.

A wreath-laying ceremony organized by the South Korean Embassy in Washington will be held at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington Friday. U.S. Korean War veterans’ organizations will hold commemorative events Saturday in Maryland and Pittsburgh.

On Sunday, the Washington Navy Veterans Association will host a commemorative event for the anniversary and the second inter-Korean clash in the Yellow Sea at the South Korean Embassy in Washington. An event to remember those killed in the March 26 sinking of the South Korean naval vessel Cheonan will also be held there.

yhchoi65@donga.com