The names of soldiers were called in groups according to their countries in alphabetical order beginning with Australia. As a new country took its turn, its national flag was raised and its anthem was played.

"Had it not been for the sacrifices by the heroes from the 21 countries, the Republic of Korea would not exist today," Pyo Se-woo, defense attache at the South Korean Embassy in Washington, said in a speech at the start of the ceremony.

The United States led the 21-nation Allied Forces to help South Korea repel the Chinese-backed communist troops invading from the North. Nearly 38,000 UN troops, most of them from the US, were killed in action during the conflict.

The war ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, leaving the divided peninsula still technically at war. (Yonhap)