"Xi Jinping's Speech on the '6.25 US Imperialist Aggression War'... Ministry of Foreign Affairs and US State Department Rebuttal"

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "North Korea's invasion of the South is a settled issue internationally"
U.S. State Department: "North Korea's invasion of the South supported by China"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Regarding Chinese President Xi Jinping's statement on the 25 June War (Korean War) as the "War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (Kangmei Yuanchao)," the South Korean government belatedly stated that "it is a clear historical fact that the war broke out due to North Korea's invasion of the South." This is the first time in 20 years since former President Jiang Zemin in 2000 that China's top leader has directly spoken at a commemorative event for the Korean War. The US State Department also strongly refuted the claim, stating that "the Korean War was a southern invasion by North Korea supported by Mao Zedong."

Regarding President Xi's speech commemorating the 70th anniversary of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on the 26th, "The outbreak of the Korean War and related matters are issues that have already been settled internationally, and such clear historical facts cannot be changed," adding, "It is an undeniable historical fact that the Korean War broke out due to North Korea's invasion of the South." The government maintained a low-key stance rather than expressing regret over historical distortion in its future response. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs added, "Our government is closely monitoring related developments and is engaging in necessary communication and measures with the Chinese side regarding our concerns."

Following South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the US State Department also directly refuted President Xi's remarks about the outbreak of the Korean War. Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson for the US State Department, tweeted, "The Chinese Communist Party claims that the Korean War simply 'broke out' 70 years ago, but in fact, on June 25, 1950, it was a southern invasion by North Korea supported by Mao Zedong," adding, "While free nations fought back, the Chinese Communist Party crossed the Yalu River and sent hundreds of thousands of troops, bringing devastation to the Korean Peninsula." The US Embassy in South Korea translated the spokesperson's tweet into Korean and posted it on its website.

Earlier, on the morning of the 23rd, President Xi attended the 70th anniversary commemorative event for the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, claiming that China's participation in the Korean War suppressed US imperialist aggression and protected China's security. President Xi said, "With the participation of the Chinese army, imperialist aggression and expansion were suppressed," and "China's War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea was a war that demonstrated the status of the new great power of China not only in Asia but worldwide, and showed the firm determination of the Chinese people to maintain world peace." China commemorates October 25, 1950, when it achieved its first victory against US and South Korean forces during the Korean War, as a memorial day with annual events.

Chinese media reported that President Xi's speech was a de facto warning aimed at the United States. The state-run Global Times cited Chinese experts, saying it was similar to the warnings China issued before US and UN forces crossed the 38th parallel in 1950, and described it as a very clear message to the Trump administration. In response, Hong Kong media South China Morning Post (SCMP) pointed out through Chinese experts' voices that since this issue could further deepen US-China conflicts, there is a need to exercise restraint in propaganda related to the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea within China recently.