Prospects for reading congratulatory messages in case of final non-attendance… Biden Announces Korean War Anniversary Proclamation
US President Joe Biden is expected not to attend the ceremony for the completion of the ‘Wall of Remembrance’ held at the Korean War Veterans Memorial Park in Washington DC on the 27th (local time).
“President Biden is recovering from COVID-19,” said John Kirby, the White House’s National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator at a telephone briefing on the afternoon of the 26th. “I don’t expect to attend this event in person,” he said.
“President Biden deeply respects the service and sacrifices of the United Nations forces that fought in Korea as well as the US military,” he said.
President Biden also issued a proclamation on the anniversary of the Korean War on the same day, saying he is encouraging all Americans to remember the strength, sacrifice and sense of duty of veterans.
If President Biden ultimately does not attend, it is expected that President Biden’s congratulatory message will be read.
It is said that who will attend on behalf of the US administration is still in flux.
The names of 43,808 people, including 36,634 US soldiers and 7,174 KATUSA soldiers who died, are engraved on the wall of the Korean War Veterans Memorial, whose construction began in May of last year and is completed in 15 months.
The completion ceremony will be attended by Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, Minister of Veterans Affairs Park Min-sik, and National Assembly Defense Chairman Lee Hun-seung.
On the American side, Kurt Campbell, the NSC Indo-Pacific Coordinator for the White House, and Congressman Amibera will also be present.
President Yoon Seok-yeol’s message will be read by Minister of Veterans Affairs Park Min-sik.
Previously, President Biden had been considering whether to attend at the request of the Korean War Veterans Memorial Foundation, which hosts the completion ceremony.
President Biden was diagnosed with COVID-19 on the 21st, and according to guidelines, the quarantine period (5 days) ends on that day, and if the test is negative after that, he will be released from quarantine.
/yunhap news