Biden awards Korean War vet Medal of Honor as South Korea's president takes part

President Joe Biden will award Korean War veteran Ralph Puckett the Medal of Honor Friday -- the first time Biden will bestow the honor as president.

As President Joe Biden on Friday awarded the Medal of Honor to a 94-year-old Korean War veteran, he invited South Korean President Moon Jae-in to speak -- the first time a foreign leader has participated in such a White House presentation. "President Moon, it's a real honor to have you here participating in this ceremony today," Biden began, in his first time making the award. "The strength of the alliance between the United States, the Republic of Korea was born out of the courage, determination, sacrifice, and of the Korean troops fighting shoulder to shoulder with American troops. And having you here today is an important recognition of all that our nation has achieved together, both of them, in the decades since." Biden awarded the distinction to retired Army Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. for showing "extraordinary heroism and selflessness" in the Korean War more than 70 years ago -- and, after hailing Puckett as a man deserving of "a little bit of fuss," he invited his South Korean counterpart to speak. "Earlier, Colonel Puckett told me that when he was in Korea during the Korean war it was absolutely destroyed. That was true," Moon said through a translator. "But from the ashes of the Korean war we rose, we came back, and that was thanks to the Korean war veterans who fought for Korea's peace and freedom. And right now thanks to their support and efforts we are enjoying prosperity."