As a way to pay respect to their late comrades, 30 Kiwi War veterans of the Korean War travelled to attend the UN war Ceremony at the southern port city of Busan. There were 34 Kiwis buried at Busan.

As a UN Service was held in commemoration of the 2300 comrades who died during the war, Karakia were played by the Defence Force Maori Culture group and was accompanied by strains of bagpipes and brass, The New Zealand Herald reports. The Karakia was followed by a Waiata performed as strains of bagpipes and bugle calls fade from a distance.

US War Memorials Commissioner Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel said that "each and every one who served stood for, and continues to stand for, honour, freedom and peace."

One of the Kiwi veterans who travelled to Korea was John Bridgewater from Mt Albert who was also the oldest member among the group.

Mr Bridgewater fondly recalled his war best friend Ray Carson who died in 1953 at the age of 22. Mr Crason died tragically in the battlefield through a "Quad" truck used to tow field guns.

Mr Bridgewater placed a poppy on Mr Carson's grave. He said that all his effort of travelling to far Busan was worthwhile because he was able to spend several minutes at Mr Carson's grave.

Mr Bridgewater recalled, "We went about together, he was a bit younger than me. He had a girlfriend in Christchurch, and he'd send her stuff. I'd help him pick it out."

Prime Minister John Key who travelled with the group did not allow the emotional moment to just pass by without being acknowledged.

Mr Key said, "I think there will be a huge amount of emotion today. This is the place where 34 New Zealanders are buried at the war memorial there. This is the place where we suffered our casualties. This is where our vets will have almost certainly have been engaged or fought many of them."

"So I think it will be quite a moving day because we have both the UN ceremony and of course the New Zealand ceremony, so I think for a lot of the vets, they have already mentioned to me that they aren't exactly sure how they will respond when they go down there. So it will be a very emotion packed day for them."

"I say to you gentleman, I salute you, I salute your bravery and your courage. This service is all the more special and powerful for your presence."

During an attack by China and North Korea in 1950, New Zealand was among the very first country to answer the call from UN for assistance in South Korea. There were about 6000 Kiwi troops who hid the call and fought with the country from 1950 to 1953.