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`The Republic of Korea observes the Homeland Reserve Forces Day on the first Saturday in April, 1968 when the Homeland Reserve Forces (HRF) was activated in a grand ceremony at Taejon in a major move to buttress the nation`s regular armed forces. The HRF activation, aimed at strengthening the country`s defense posture, was prompted by the incursion into Seoul of a north Korean Communist commando squad in January 1968 and the north Korean Communists` attack and seizure of a U.S. reconnaissance ship, USS Pueblo, off the East Coast of the Korean Peninsula in the same month. As the nation observes the fourth anniversary of the HRF activation this year, the 2,500,000 mem of the HRF stand as a vital prop in the national security structure as well as a champion of the nation`s all-out efforts for self-reliant defense, ready for quick mobilization at any time under the present state of national emergency. Dedicated to their avowed objective of ``defending the country while working for the national development,`` the HRF members are redoubling their efforts to further improve their combat capabilities in order to cope with any eventuality that may arise. Hailing the HRF members for their devotion to the defense of the homeland and hoping that the nation, through its active support of the HRF, will establish a new sense of value concerning the national security, the Ministry of Communications is issuing this commemorative stamp.`