2024-07-10 23:03:23
President Yoon Seok-yeol, who is visiting the United States to attend the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, visited the Indo-Pacific Command in Honolulu, Hawaii on the 9th (local time) and received a report from the commander on the security situation and defense posture on the Korean Peninsula and encouraged the soldiers.
President Yoon arrived at Intaesa this morning, held a welcoming ceremony, and discussed military and security issues on the Korean Peninsula and in the region with Commander of Intaesa Command Samuel Purparo. At the meeting, President Yoon said, “North Korea’s advancement of nuclear and missile capabilities and continuous provocations are undermining the security of the Korean Peninsula and in the region,” and “A firmer combined defense posture is more important than ever, and the Intaesa Command’s role in this regard is crucial.”
President Yoon also presented Commander Perparo with the Order of National Security Merit, Tongil Medal. It was awarded in recognition of his contribution to strengthening the ROK-US combined defense posture while serving as Commander of the Pacific Fleet for the past three years. Afterwards, President Yoon went to the Operations Center to hear about the operational status of the Indo-Pacific Command, and expressed his gratitude for the efforts of the Indo-Pacific Command to maintain the combined defense posture of the Korean Peninsula, and emphasized closer cooperation between the ROK-US military authorities.
President Yoon also met with and encouraged about 200 soldiers of the Indo-Pacific Command. President Yoon said, “As the first sitting president of Korea to visit the Indo-Pacific Command in 29 years, this is to further solidify the ironclad ROK-US alliance and combined defense posture amid the grave international situation and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula.” He added, “The Indo-Pacific Command is a mainstay of the ROK-US alliance that supports the ROK-US combined defense posture and plays a central role in deploying US reinforcements in the event of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula.”
He then criticized North Korea’s nuclear and missile development and North Korea-Russia military cooperation, saying, “In order to protect our freedom, democracy, and economic prosperity from such reckless forces, strong power and solidarity among countries that share values are essential.” He added, “Strong capabilities based on solid commitments and cooperation are the driving force that firmly protects the regional order based on values and norms, and the Indo-Pacific Command is at the foundation of that.”
President Yoon said, “The dedication and efforts of the soldiers of ICOMOS are the true force driving the strong ROK-U.S. alliance, ROK-U.S.-Japan cooperation, and international solidarity,” adding, “I am confident that, under Commander Purparo’s command guideline of ‘overwhelming victory (Prevail),’ ICOMOS will always dominate the battlefield and become a command that is victorious.”
At the event, key officials including Commander Papparo, Commander of US Forces Korea Paul LaCamera, Commander of Army Pacific Charles Flynn, Commander of Pacific Air Forces Kevin Schneider, Commander of Pacific Fleet Stephen Koehler, and Commander of Marine Corps Pacific William Journey also attended to commemorate President Yoon’s visit.
It has been 29 years since a sitting South Korean president visited Intaesa since then-President Kim Young-sam visited the Pacific Command in 1995. The Pacific Command was renamed the Indo-Pacific Command in May 2018. Kim Tae-hyo, First Vice Director of the National Security Office, described Intaesa as “a superior unit of the USFK, and a mainstay of the ROK-US alliance that plays a central role in reinforcing US forces in times of emergency.”
Kim So-young, Donga.com reporter [email protected]
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2024-07-10 23:03:23