U.S. Congresswoman Young Kim speaks during the 17th annual National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day commemoration in Washington, D.C., July 24. Yonhap
U.S. lawmakers, Korean Americans and others gathered in Washington on Wednesday to honor Korean War veterans and hope for lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, as they commemorated the signing of the armistice that halted the conflict 71 years ago.
Celebrating the National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day, the annual event started at 6:25 p.m. in reference to June 25, 1950, when the war broke out, while a candlelight ceremony took place at 7:27 p.m. to symbolize the date when the armistice was signed in 1953.
Enacted in 2009, the Korean War Veterans Recognition Act created the special day. The act was sponsored by former Congressman Charles Rangel, a Korean American veteran himself.
Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) highlighted the sacrifices of Korean War veterans, saying that the memories of the “forgotten war” might have faded, but for her, they are “crystal clear.”
“As a Korean American, I am here because of the sacrifice of our brave Korean War veterans,” she said.
Though 71 years have passed since the armistice halted the conflict, the United States cannot “sleep on” the threats from a recalcitrant North Korea, she pointed out.
“I will continue to work on the House Foreign Affairs Committee to be one of the loudest voices for the oppressed North Korean (people) … and hold (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-un accountable and push for the full denuclearization of North Korea,” she said.
“Like many of you, I pray for one day … for a unified Korean Peninsula. Hopefully, that will happen in our lifetime.”
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