Key facts
- Officials from South Korea, the U.S., and other Korean War participating nations gathered in Washington.
- The event, the International Conference on Veterans Affairs, focused on strengthening solidarity.
- South Korea's Vice Veterans Minister Kang Yun-jin expressed gratitude for veterans' sacrifices.
- The U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency aims to recover over 7,000 unaccounted-for U.S. troops from the Korean War.
- Diplomats highlighted the veterans' sacrifices as foundational to current freedom and peace.
Officials from South Korea, the United States, and other nations that participated in the Korean War convened in Washington for the International Conference on Veterans Affairs. The forum, held for the first time outside South Korea, aimed to foster greater solidarity among allies facing contemporary security challenges, including North Korea's advancing military threats.
South Korea's Vice Veterans Minister Kang Yun-jin emphasized the profound gratitude for the sacrifices of veterans from the 22 nations that provided support during the 1950-53 conflict. She highlighted the significance of the event taking place in the U.S. during its 250th anniversary of independence, calling the Korean War a prime example of the U.S. defending freedom.
Jennifer Walsh, principal deputy director of the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, spoke about the agency's commitment to recovering unaccounted-for U.S. troops from the Korean War, estimating that over 7,000 of the 7,359 missing service members could be recovered. She stressed the urgency due to time constraints and the importance of supporting affected families.
Diplomats from participating countries shared video messages, underscoring that the sacrifices of Korean War veterans laid the groundwork for current freedom and peace. Jim Heller, deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, and Ashley Mulroney, chargé d'Affaires at the Canadian Embassy in Seoul, both spoke about the shared sacrifice and the enduring friendship forged through the war.