Seoul: The defense ministry hosted a ceremony Monday to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the U.N. Command (UNC) and honor the sacrifice of U.N. troops during the 1950-53 Korean War, the ministry said. The UNC was launched in 1950 following the outbreak of the three-year conflict as a U.S.-led multinational command responsible for maintaining peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, as well as facilitating cooperation among allied nations.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Monday's ceremony, hosted by Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, brought together ministerial and vice ministerial officials from 22 nations, including the defense chiefs of the Philippines and South Africa. During the event, Minister Ahn expressed gratitude for the UNC and the war veterans, acknowledging their role in South Korea's post-war development and emphasizing the importance of continued international cooperation to defend peace.

Descendants of Korean War veterans from Colombia, France, and Germany also attended the event, highlighting the global legacy of the UNC. More than 1.9 million service members from UNC member states, including the United States, Britain, and Australia, provided combat, medical, and logistical support during the Korean War, which technically has never ended, as a peace treaty was not signed.