Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan says the Korean War was triggered by an invasion of South Korea by North Korea.

Kim told reporters Wednesday in Seoul that nations around the world agree that the North was responsible for starting the war and that all debates on the issue have already been concluded.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, who is thought to be in line to succeed Hu Jintao as president, stirred controversy Monday by saying that the Korean War was a “great victory in the pursuit of world peace and human progress” and was a "just war for safeguarding peace and resisting aggression."