-
Korea.net's 24-hour YouTube channel- NEWS FOCUS
- ABOUT KOREA
- EVENTS
- RESOURCES
- GOVERNMENT
- ABOUT US
On June 28, President Moon Jae-in and first lady Kim Jung-sook have a moment of silence at a memorial dedicated to the Jangjin Reservoir Battle (장진호 전투) of the Korean War at Marine Corps Based Quantico in Virginia. (Yonhap News)
By Sohn JiAe
President Moon Jae-in on June 28 said the Korea-U.S. alliance will grow more greatly and strongly while visiting a memorial dedicated to the Jangjin Reservoir Battle (장진호 전투) of the Korean War at Marine Corps Based Quantico in Virginia.
The battle was one of the fiercest of the Korean War (1950-53), and President Moon called the Hungnam Evacuation, in which U.S. Marines evacuated more than 100,000 Korean refugees to the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, “a Christmas miracle.”
“It was the greatest humanitarian operation in history,” he said, “Two years later, I was born on Geoje Island where the SS Meredith Victory disembarked the refugees. Had it not been for the valiant warriors of the Jangjin Reservoir Battle and the success of the Hungnam Evacuation, my life would not have started. I would not even exist today.”
“The story goes beyond my personal and family histories. I am also deeply touched by the love for humanity the U.S. service members showed when they evacuated not just their comrades but also so many refugees from the North at such an urgent moment,” he said, adding, “This is the reason why the Jangjin Reservoir Battle and the Hungnam Evacuation are regarded the greatest victories in the history of war.”
President Moon Jae-in (right) on June 28 talks to retired U.S. Rear Admiral Robert Lunney, who helped the so-called Hungnam Evacuation onboard the SS Meredith Victory, during the president's visit to a memorial dedicated to the Battle of Jangjin Reservoir of the Korean War at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Lunney gives President Moon a picture of the vessel filled with refugees. (Cheong Wa Dae)
With U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller, veterans who fought in the battle, those involved in the evacuation and their families in attendance, President Moon said, “I have no doubt about the future of the Korea-U.S. alliance. I will go hand in hand with President Donald Trump. Building upon the great foundation of the Korea-U.S. alliance, we will jointly bring about the dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear program, peace on the Korean Peninsula and, moreover, peace in Northeast Asia.”
Neller said, “The great legacy that we share -- a sound alliance -- has lived on to this day, as both nations and both peoples have continued to reaffirm and solidify the alliance over the past years. What we can do together is to make us stronger than ever.”
He then said, “Gatchi gapsida (같이 갑시다),” or “Let’s go together” in Korean.
President Moon Jae-in (left) and first lady Kim Jung-sook on June 28 look around a monument dedicated to the Battle of Jangjin Reservoir of the Korean War at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. (Cheong Wa Dae)
jiae5853@korea.kr
