Florida veterans react to North Korea dismissing armistice agreement

LAKE WORTH, Fla. -- - The treaty that ended the Korean War and brought fighting to a fault for more than 60 years is being dismissed by the North Korean army as "invalid."

The armistice agreement was signed in 1953, three years after war broke out between North and South Korea.

Now the work U.S. troops is being challenged and possibly undoing the treaty that cost more than 36,000 soldiers their lives.

Korean War veterans fought for years overseas in a bate that took the lives of more than 36,000 U.S. troops.

Sitting at the American Legion Hall in Lake Worth, Florida, it is easy for Korean War veteran John Bradshaw to remember the armistice agreement was signed.

"Can't forget it. It's ended. No more planes, it's a total relief," said Bradshaw.

Bradshaw was 24 at the time of the war and served in the U.S. Airforce guiding planes in to the war zone. Now at 82, the peace he and thousands of other troop fought for is being challenged by North Korea.

"Our efforts are pretty much down the tubes. You're back to ground zero," said Bradshaw.

The 82-year-old Korean War veteran said he already considers it the "Forgotten War."

Bradshaw said the latest challenge of the treaty by North Korea makes him second guess what he and others accomplished back in 1953.

"The treaty did not make you victors of the event, as we see today," said  Bradshaw. "I'm ready to go back and finish."

Bradshaw said no matter what is made of the latest development, he knows he made a difference. On a recent trip back to South Korea, Bradshaw said it hit him that his work meant something even if it only lasted this long.

"Saw what a great nation it is and you were kind of proud that you protected those people," said Bradshaw.

North Korea has challenged the armistice agreement two times in the past.

The U.S. Government has yet to respond to the latest developments.