"More than seven decades after the war, the [U.S.] and [South Korea] remain united in a steadfast alliance, tested by shared sacrifice, and bound by an abiding love of freedom," Trump said in a message released by the White House.
Trump paid tribute to the "extraordinary courage and devotion" of U.S. troops who "fought, bled, and died to secure the blessings of liberty for the people of South Korea."
"More than 32,000 Americans were killed in action, more than 90,000 were wounded, thousands suffered the cruelty of captivity as prisoners of war, and countless others carried home the unseen scars of battle. In all, more than 135,000 were counted among the fallen and wounded of that war, and their sacrifice to secure our way of life will never be forgotten," Trump said, invoking the famous inscription at the Korean War Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.: "Freedom is not free."
"That bond serves as a pillar of peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific, a solemn vow to our allies throughout Asia that we will stand with them against the forces of evil and oppression - a threat to world peace that endures to this very day," he added.
Trump also used the anniversary to emphasize his administration's hardline stance against communism, saying "The same communist ambition that once sought to conquer the Korean Peninsula is trying to rear its ugly head once more - this time in the West - yet our resolve will never falter."
His message came as North Korea marked the anniversary with a massive commemorative parade in Pyongyang the previous day, with leader Kim Jong-un attending events celebrating what the regime calls "Victory Day."
Kim, accompanied by his daughter Ju-ae, visited memorial sites for Chinese soldiers who fought in the Korean War, in what was largely seen as a gesture highlighting the importance of North Korea's ties with Beijing.
The contrasting commemorations reflected the enduring legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, leaving the two Koreas technically still at war more than seven decades later.
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