South Korea Marks Anniversary of Recapture of Seoul

South Korea held a military ceremony to mark the 60th anniversary of recapture of Seoul from North Korea. South Korean president Lee Myung-bak used the occasion to remind everyone of the threat of North Korea's nuclear program.

South Korea held a military ceremony on Tuesday to mark the 60th anniversary of the recapture of Seoul, after an invasion from the North.

[Lee Myung-bak, South Korean President]:
"With the truce between the two Koreas lasting for 60 years, there has been some relaxation in the minds of our soldiers."

North and South Korea are still technically at war since the 1950's Korean War ended in a truce without a peace treaty.

Ties between the two Koreas have been sour since conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office in 2008 and ended aid to the North, demanding an end to its nuclear ambitions.

Tensions spiked this year after the South, with the United States' backing, accused the North of torpedoing one of its navy ships. Pyongyang denies the charge and threatened to retaliate by force if Seoul imposed sanctions.

[Lee Myung-bak, South Korean President]:
"Even if the Cold War era has gone, terrorism by proliferation of nuclear weapons and various kinds of new threats are threatening world peace. No country in the world is free from this kind of threat, so international security cooperation is more important than in the past."

After the ceremony, hundreds of cadets from the South Korean Military Academy and domestic and foreign veterans from the Korean War marched through the city. Jet fighters and helicopters also flew over the city in celebration.