President Park Geun-hye said she will make the Republic of Korea a new, safer country and work toward peaceful unification out of respect for the country's patriotic martyrs. President Park said so during a ceremony to mark the nation's 59th National Memorial Day at the Seoul National Cemetery on June 6.



“As our patriotic martyrs devoted their lives to the country, Korea will surely rise again if the people can come together as one, with a single focused mind and a united will,” said the president.

“Korea achieved freedom and prosperity because of sacred sacrifices made by the patriotic martyrs and the fallen heroes who died protecting their homeland. I believe we have an obligation to make this country a rich, happy nation by inheriting their noble spirit,” said the president.





“Peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula will bring happiness and prosperity to the peoples of both Koreas and will open another possibility for Northeast Asia and the whole world. However, if the North continues its nuclear weapons development program and makes provocative threats, peace on the Korean Peninsula will be far-off,” said the president, who repeatedly emphasized the reasons for and importance of peaceful unification across the region. “I sincerely hope Pyongyang can give up its nuclear weapons and come forward to save its economy and improve its people’s lives, all with the support of the international community,” she added.



The ceremony was held in the solemn presence of about 10,000 people, including patriots, veterans and their bereaved family members, as well as cabinet members, leaders of political parties and ambassadors to Korea. At the ceremony, President Park awarded badges and certificates of national merit to a select group of recipients.

By Jeon Han, Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writers
hanjeon@korea.kr