Foreign Minister Cho Hyun met with retired senior U.S. generals who once led U.S. Forces Korea and stressed the importance of Washington's security commitment to the alliance.
Cho received former USFK commanders Burwell Bell, Robert Abrams and Paul LaCamera on the 14th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Bell led USFK from 2006 to 2008, Abrams from 2018 to 2021 and LaCamera from 2021 to 2024.
Cho and the former commanders emphasized the importance of maintaining and strengthening a solid South Korea-U.S. combined defense posture based on Washington's airtight extended deterrence commitment amid the grave security environment on the Korean Peninsula, the ministry said. The former commanders said they are continuing efforts to broaden support for the alliance within the United States through a range of activities, and pledged to keep playing whatever role is needed to advance the partnership.
Cho expressed appreciation for the contributions of the former commanders, describing them as longtime friends of South Korea and strong supporters of the alliance who remain actively engaged, and said he hopes for their continued attention and active support for the alliance going forward.
The meeting came as the former commanders visited South Korea at the invitation of the Korea-U.S. Alliance Foundation. Cho said he plans to hold a South Korea-U.S. foreign ministers' meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio this month, with scheduling still being coordinated with the U.S. side. The talks are expected to cover pending bilateral issues including troop deployment, investment in the United States and follow-up discussions on the joint fact sheet.
