President Yoon Suk Yeol on Oct. 12 speaks at a ceremony marking the 73rd anniversary of the Jangjin (Chosin) Reservoir Battle of the Korean War at the War Memorial of Korea's Peace Plaza in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District.

By Israa Mohamed
Photos = Kang Min Seok, Office of the President

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Oct. 12 said, "The bilateral alliance with the U.S., which was forged in blood during the Korean War, has developed into the world's most successful alliance over the past 70 years."

At a ceremony marking the 73rd anniversary of the war's Jangjin (Chosin) Reservoir Battle at the War Memorial of Korea's Peace Square in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District, he also mentioned the Battle of the Naktong (Nakdonggang) River Defense Line and the 1950 Incheon landing.

The Jangjin battle was a two-week evacuation operation from Nov. 27 to Dec. 11, 1950, by United Nations forces mainly led by American soldiers to break through a communist Chinese siege encirclement near the lake on the Gaema Plateau in Hamgyeongnam-do Province of present-day North Korea.

The Office of the President in Seoul said the commemorative event was launched in 2016 and President Yoon was the nation's first incumbent head of state to attend it.

"The Jangjin Reservoir Battle was the most successful battle in history as it overcame cold of more than minus 40 degrees Celsius, rough terrain and layer upon layer of enemy siege," he said at the event. "Through this battle, about 100,000 civilians from the Heungnam (a port in North Korea) region could enter the arms of freedom."

"The Korea-U.S. alliance is stronger than ever," he added. "We will reinforce our trilateral security cooperation with the U.S. and Japan and work in close solidarity with ally nations to contribute to freedom, peace and prosperity throughout the world."

In a memorial address, U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Philip Goldberg called the Jangjin battle a reminder of the great sacrifices made by the Republic of Korea Army, American Marines and military personnel, and U.N. forces, adding that the bonds forged by the battle's heroes are the foundation of today's ironclad bilateral alliance.

President Yoon Suk Yeol (left) on Oct. 12 hold hands with Kim Eung-seon, a veteran who participated in the 1950 Heungnam evacuation during the Korean War, at a ceremony marking the 73rd anniversary of the Jangjin Reservoir Battle at the War Memorial of Korea's Peace Plaza in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District.

ess8@korea.kr