On July 28, 2025, the White House released a presidential message commemorating National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. The statement honors the nearly two million Americans who served in the Korean War, which began in June 1950 and lasted more than three years.
The message recalls that American troops were deployed shortly after North Korea invaded South Korea on June 25, 1950. It notes that U.S. forces faced difficult combat conditions and harsh weather throughout the conflict. Key battles mentioned include Heartbreak Ridge, Pork Chop Hill, and the Chosin Reservoir.
According to the statement, "More than 32,000 Americans perished in combat, nearly 93,000 were wounded, and thousands more were captured or missing in action." The armistice was signed on July 27, 1953 by representatives of the United Nations, North Korea, and China at Panmunjom. This agreement established a ceasefire along the demilitarized zone at the 38th parallel.
The president also referenced his previous visit to North Korea as a sitting president: "During my first term in office, I was proud to become the first sitting President to cross this demilitarized zone into North Korea. My first Administration also maintained a maximum pressure campaign and enforced sanctions on North Korea to negotiate denuclearization, the release of American hostages, and the return of the remains of American heroes."
The message concludes with a commitment to continue supporting veterans and maintaining strong alliances: "Although the evils of communism still persist in Asia, American and South Korean forces remain united in an ironclad alliance to this day. Guided by my Administration’s foreign policy of peace through strength, we remain steadfastly committed to safeguarding the Korean Peninsula and working together for the noble causes of safety, stability, prosperity, and peace."
"This National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day," it continues,"we honor the patriots who fought and died in Korea so that freedom might endure both on our land and beyond our shores. We vow to rebuild our military, support our veterans, and stand strong against forces of tyranny. Above all, we proudly remember every American hero who shed their blood to defend our home, our heritage, and our glorious way of life. Their valiant legacy will never be forgotten."
