National memorial ceremony held in Norway

The terror attacks did not only deeply shock the Norwegian people, but people from all around the world. The Norwegian Embassy in Seoul received many condolences in the period after the attacks, all of which we are very thankful for. Ambassador Didrik Tønseth gave an interview to Korea Herald about the tragedy and the Norwegian determination to not let the terror change the Norwegian society, our democracy, freedom of speech and human rights. A determination that was also strongly present at the national memorial ceremony this Sunday.

More than 6 000 guests attended the ceremony. Among the guests were bereaved families and survivors and their relatives, along with rescue workers from the health service, the police, the fire and rescue services, the armed forces, the civil defence and voluntary organisations, as well as individuals who took part in the rescue effort and those who have been involved in the follow-up work in the ministries.

Photo: Kyrre Lien/Scanpix

The entire Norwegian royal family attended the ceremony along with H.R.H. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and H.R.H. Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark. They were joined by the prime ministers of all the Nordic countries, who had also come to show their support to the Norwegian people. Along with these were representatives of Norwegian authorities and representatives of the Labour Youth League and the Labour Party.

H.M. King Harald V was clearly moved when he addressed the audience, encouraging the Norwegian people to take care of each other, and help those directly affected by the terror. He also repeated his words from the day after the tragedy: “I maintain the belief that freedom is stronger than fear. I maintain the belief in an open Norwegian democracy and society. And I maintain the belief in our ability to live freely and safely in our own country”.

Reminding the Norwegian people that grief has just barely begun for those who lost their loved ones, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg asked everyone to give extra care to these people in the upcoming time, and also to start to look forward: “In respect of those who were torn away, we shall set our sight ahead”.