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Korean War veterans attend ceremony over war cemetery renovation

About 100 foreign reporters, including from Russia, are covering the events marking Victory Day

PYONGYANG, July 25 (Itar-Tass) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un took part on Thursday in a ceremony in Pyongyang over the finished renovation of a memorial cemetery where fighters of the Korean People’s Army killed during the Korean War of 1950-1953 are buried.

Kim Jong Un did not make a speech, but Korean People’s Army military and war veterans present at the ceremony greeted him with great enthusiasm.

Chinese volunteers who fought on the side of North Korea took part in the ceremony timed to mark the 60th anniversary of victory in the Fatherland Liberation War. There were also two American veterans of the Korean War among the guests. One of them, 88-year-old retired captain of US Navy Thomas Hudner told foreign reporters that it had been a cruel war for both sides. He also said the ceremony at the cemetery was deeply emotional.

Ahead of Victory Day to be marked on July 27, the North Korean authorities allocated money toward improving the territories of military cemeteries and building new fences. Sign plates were put on the gates with the dates of the Korean War “June 25, 1950 - July 27, 1953.” New monuments have been built across the country in memory of the Korean soldiers who gave their lives “for the party, the leader, the country and the people”.

About 100 foreign reporters, including from Russia, are covering the events marking Victory Day. A Syrian delegation, led by the deputy secretary general of the Syrian Ba’ath Party, Abdullah al-Ahmar, arrived in Pyongyang.

On Wednesday the delegation met with Kim Jong Un. An official delegation is also expected to arrive from China, which is considered the main ally and trade-economic partner of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

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