1. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se hosted a tea meeting on July 24 for the ambassadors to the Republic of Korea from the 21 countries that fought on the side of the ROK in the Korean War. The event served as a meaningful occasion for the participants to bring renewed attention to the significance of the 60th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice and share a vision to usher in a new era of happiness for the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia and the global village by building upon the past 60 years of friendship as peace-loving allies.

* The event brought together resident or acting ambassadors to the ROK from the 21 countries –Australia, Belgium, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Ethiopia, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Philippines, the Republic of South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, the UK, and the US (as well as the non-resident ambassador from Luxembourg).

2. At the event, Minister Yun emphasized that peace on the Korean Peninsula is indivisible from that in the international community. He noted with appreciation that the international community, which fought for the freedom and democracy of the ROK, is again sending a resolute and strong message to North Korea condemning its development of nuclear weapons and missiles. He stressed that as a member of the UN Security Council and a peace-loving member of the international community, the ROK will do its best to support the international community’s efforts to maintain international peace and security.

° The event featured a video showing the participation of UN forces in the Korean War. The participating ambassadors were presented with commemorative plaques inscribed with the phrase, “We will be ever together.”

3. The ambassadors from the Philippines, the Republic of South Africa, Turkey, the US and Ethiopia made replies to the Minister’s remarks as representatives from the five regions that fought for the ROK in the Korean War. In their replies, they took note of the significance of the bond forged through their participation in the Korean War as well as the 60th anniversary of the Korean War Armistice. They also expressed their resolve to continue close cooperation with the ROK as its allies to establish sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula.

* Full text of Minister Yun’s remarks attached

                           Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFA

* unofficial translation