UNMCK - UNITED NATIONS MEMORIAL CEMETERY IN KOREA

Dear Korean War Veterans, Hello! I am Hareen Oh, a 17 year old student living in South Korea. I think I am having a great time in my great country with happiness all around. But even if South Korea seems to be a wonderful place to live, our country has a dark history. We had a devastating war called the Korean War in 1950. Endless fighting went on for over 3 years and finally stopped when the Korean Peninsula was divided in half. Now as about 65 years has passed since the war ended, South Korea looks quite different from then. Although it has the title of a divided country, we live happily like any other country with a strong economy, great education, and high spirits. But this couldn’t have happened if it were not for your help. You and your fellow veterans were the spark that lit up South Korea to the country it is today. After your hard work in the war, Korea has also put much effort to raise the country you have saved. We have had many summits between South Korea, North Korea, and the United States. The first three summits were arranged between South Korea and North Korea. On June 2000, the first summit was held and the two countries of the Korean Peninsula announced the ‘6·15 South North Joint Declaration’ as the starting point of their reconciliation. After the Declaration, South Korea and North Korea showed cooperation through exchange in various fields. On October 2007, the second summit was held to enhance economic cooperation and work towards peace to develop together. The ‘10·4 Declaration’ was announced and 30 more talks between the countries’ representatives were held. On April 2018, the third summit was held with an announcement of the ‘Panmunjom Declaration’ stating the denuclearization of North Korea, making of the South North Joint Contact Office, changing the demilitarized zone into a peace zone, and the 8·15 meeting of separated family members. With a more specific and detailed declaration, South Korea and North Korea became one step closer to reunification. Following the summit between South Korea and North Korea, the summit between the United States of America and North Korea was held in 2018 Singapore. The ‘Joint Statement of President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the Singapore Summit’ agreement was accomplished with comments that this is only a small step towards the great possibility. The next summit was held in 2019 Vietnam. However the second summit did not end as well as the first one. President Donald J. Trump of the United States of America and Chairman Kim Jong Un of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea had different opinions and thoughts, leading to no agreements reached. Although the second summit was troublesome, there are still chances to overcome the disagreements between the countries and hopes for South Korea and North Korea to reunite. Looking around, I think it is not that far from the moment when the two Koreas become one. I am satisfied with my wonderful country now too, but I think it would be better to come together as a whole like we used to be years ago. I hope this day comes soon, and when this day finally does come, I will know that it was all thanks to you and your fellow veterans’ hard work! Again, I really appreciate your effort when you fought in the Korean War, and I hope, from where ever you are, you can see the Korean Peninsula become one again. Sincerely, Hareen Oh