Скачать или смотреть Ceremony marking 59th anniversary of ceasefire between North and SKorea

(27 Jul 2012) US and South Korean officials commemorated the 59th anniversary of the Korean War armistice at the border village of Panmunjom on Friday.
Military officials from South Korea and the United States Forces in South Korea, as well as officials from the United Nations (UN) and Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) lined up for a photo session at the Panmunjom border village on the demarcation line between North and South Korea.
On the Korean side of the border, North Korean soldiers tightened their security, took photos and looked through the windows of the building in Panmunjom which the demarcation line crosses.
Panmunjon is one of the world's most heavily defended border lines and remains a flash point for hostility with thousands of heavily armed forces facing each other on both sides.
The armistice between South and North Korea was signed here on July 27, 1953 and meetings between North and South Korea also take place here.
Because no peace treaty was signed, the Korean Peninsula remains technically in a state of war.
At the anniversary ceremony on Friday US Forces Korea Commander General James Thurman said he hoped to see a time when a demilitarised zone between the two Koreas would cease to exist.
"(I) hope that at some point we can start discussions again so we could resolve the situation and eventually get to (a time) when we don't have a de-militarised zone. I think that would be very important. And it's - again it's about peace and prosperity of people. That's what it's about," he said.
South Korean military officials emphasised that North Korea should stop its pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles
"North Korea must stop further reckless provocations and (we) urge (North Korea to) return to the ceasefire system in order to follow the armistice agreement," United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission representative Lee Yang-gu said.
While South Korea and the US-led UN forces that fought in the Korean War call Friday the 59th anniversary of the armistice that ended the 1950-1953 conflict, North Korea calls it a celebration of "victory in the Fatherland Liberation War."
Veterans in medal-laden uniforms streamed into North Korea's capital on Friday for ceremonies to mark the anniversary.
Ahead of the anniversary, North Korea's Foreign Ministry reiterated its long-standing demand that the United States sign a peace treaty with North Korea to replace the armistice.
Washington says normal ties will only come after North Korea abandons its pursuit of nuclear weapons and takes other steps.

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