Two Koreas mark war date very differently
Source: Agencies |
June 26, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
TENS of thousands of North Koreans rallied in their capital yesterday to condemn the United States and South Korea on the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War.
Meantime, Seoul told Pyongyang to admit responsibility for a deadly warship sinking.
One large poster at the rally in Pyongyang depicted a man kicking an American soldier and the slogan "US Army, Get Out."
At least 120,000 people marched through the streets, "raising shouts of hatred and wrath at the US imperialists and the South Korean group of traitors kowtowing to them," according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
The mood surrounding the 60th anniversary of the war's outbreak is far different from that at the 50th, which came just days after the conclusion of the first-ever summit between the Koreas in Pyongyang.
Tensions are high following the March sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan in which 46 sailors died.
60th anniversary
South Korea has blamed North Korea for the attack, which Pyongyang denies.
The Korean conflict started in the early hours of June 25, 1950.
The US and 15 other countries sent troops to aid South Korea, while Chinese soldiers fought with North Korea and the Soviet Union provided air support.
Three years of combat devastated both sides. The fighting ended with an armistice, not a permanent peace treaty, leaving the peninsula in a technical state of war.
At the Pyongyang rally, North Korean soldiers and civilians crammed the city's central square to shout slogans and listen to a speech condemning the US.
"In order to establish our people's dignity and our country's autonomy, our people and army will continue to strengthen nuclear deterrence for self defense," Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of North Korea's Workers' Party, told the gathering.
North Korea, which calls the conflict the Fatherland Liberation War, says it was started by the US.
On Thursday, KCNA carried a massive 4,300-word article listing damage North Korea says the country suffered at US hands since 1945, putting the total monetary cost for North Korean suffering at a staggering US$65 trillion.
Seoul ceremony
That amount is five times the US national debt of about US$13 trillion.
In Seoul, South Korea held a ceremony to remember the war, widely known as "6/25" for the date it began. President Lee Myung-bak presented plaques of appreciation to representatives of countries that sent soldiers or supplies to aid the war effort.
"North Korea should clearly and frankly admit and apologize for its wrongdoing over its provocation," Lee said in a speech, referring to the sinking of the Cheonan.
He also called on the country to assume a responsible attitude in the international community.
The gathering was attended by South Korean and foreign veterans of the conflict, foreign ambassadors and serving South Korean and US soldiers.
The United States stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea as a deterrent against North Korea.
Meantime, Seoul told Pyongyang to admit responsibility for a deadly warship sinking.
One large poster at the rally in Pyongyang depicted a man kicking an American soldier and the slogan "US Army, Get Out."
At least 120,000 people marched through the streets, "raising shouts of hatred and wrath at the US imperialists and the South Korean group of traitors kowtowing to them," according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
The mood surrounding the 60th anniversary of the war's outbreak is far different from that at the 50th, which came just days after the conclusion of the first-ever summit between the Koreas in Pyongyang.
Tensions are high following the March sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan in which 46 sailors died.
60th anniversary
South Korea has blamed North Korea for the attack, which Pyongyang denies.
The Korean conflict started in the early hours of June 25, 1950.
The US and 15 other countries sent troops to aid South Korea, while Chinese soldiers fought with North Korea and the Soviet Union provided air support.
Three years of combat devastated both sides. The fighting ended with an armistice, not a permanent peace treaty, leaving the peninsula in a technical state of war.
At the Pyongyang rally, North Korean soldiers and civilians crammed the city's central square to shout slogans and listen to a speech condemning the US.
"In order to establish our people's dignity and our country's autonomy, our people and army will continue to strengthen nuclear deterrence for self defense," Kim Ki Nam, secretary of the Central Committee of North Korea's Workers' Party, told the gathering.
North Korea, which calls the conflict the Fatherland Liberation War, says it was started by the US.
On Thursday, KCNA carried a massive 4,300-word article listing damage North Korea says the country suffered at US hands since 1945, putting the total monetary cost for North Korean suffering at a staggering US$65 trillion.
Seoul ceremony
That amount is five times the US national debt of about US$13 trillion.
In Seoul, South Korea held a ceremony to remember the war, widely known as "6/25" for the date it began. President Lee Myung-bak presented plaques of appreciation to representatives of countries that sent soldiers or supplies to aid the war effort.
"North Korea should clearly and frankly admit and apologize for its wrongdoing over its provocation," Lee said in a speech, referring to the sinking of the Cheonan.
He also called on the country to assume a responsible attitude in the international community.
The gathering was attended by South Korean and foreign veterans of the conflict, foreign ambassadors and serving South Korean and US soldiers.
The United States stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea as a deterrent against North Korea.
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