President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol on April 7 visited Camp Humphreys, the US Forces Korea's (USFK) base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do Province, and discussed the bilateral alliance and security status on the Korean Peninsula.
At Camp Humphreys, the president-elect gave words of encouragement to the USFK and received a briefing along with Gen. Paul LaCamera, commander of both the USFK and ROK (Republic of Korea)-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), and CFC Deputy Commander Kim Seung-kyum, according to the president-elect's spokesperson Bae Hyun-jin.
President-elect Yoon was quoted as saying that as president-elect, the first base he visited was Camp Humphreys, which he called the "the heart" of the bilateral military alliance. Given the grave international political landscape in the aftermath of North Korea's launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, he added, the strong deterrence through the bilateral military alliance and combined defensive readiness "cannot be overemphasized."
He said the freedom and prosperity enjoyed in (South) Korea are thanks to the dedication and sacrifices made by "many former comrades." He also thanked all soldiers under Gen. LaCamera for being "dedicated to defending a free Republic of Korea."
Gen. LaCamera called failure to fulfill one's role to stabilize the peninsula a dereliction of duty, and expressed the strong commitment of the United Nations Command (UNC), CFC and USFK, all of three of which provide combined defensive readiness, to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.
President-elect Yoon also visited the "ceasefire agreement room" along with Commanding Gen. Willard Burleson of the 8th U.S. Army and Major Gen. Robert Sofge, USFK assistant chief of staff. He also ate with Korean and U.S. military personnel from the 2nd Infantry Division at a mess hall.
Camp Humphreys is considered the heart of the USFK where the UNC, USFK, Special Warfare Command, 8th Army and 2nd Infantry Division are stationed. The CFC headquarters in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, is slated to move there within this year.
