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| ▲ Gen. Paul LaCamera (at podium), commander of U.S. Forces Korea, delivers a keynote speech in a dinner event in Washington on July 28, 2022, jointly hosted by the Korea Defense Veterans Association and the Korea-U.S. Alliance Foundation to mark the 69th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War. (Yonhap) |
USFK chief-alliance
USFK chief highlights importance of Korea-U.S. alliance in dealing with challenges
By Byun Duk-kun
WASHINGTON, July 28 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera stressed the importance of strengthening the U.S.-South Korea alliance Thursday, one day after the countries marked the 69th anniversary of the signing of the armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War.
The four-star U.S. general insisted the alliance provides the "strategic depth" and "legitimacy" to deal with any global challenges, including North Korea.
"I see an opportunity for the alliance to extend its reach and become a global comprehensive strategic alliance, beyond the Korean Peninsula," LaCamera said in a dinner event in Washington, jointly hosted by the Korea Defense Veterans Association and the Korea-U.S. Alliance Foundation, to mark the anniversary.
"However, let us not forget that the Korean War has not ended," he added. "While the peninsula is still on an armistice, the DPRK continues to develop capabilities that threaten not only South Korea, but regional allies and partners and the United States."
DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said earlier this week that the Seoul government and its military will face "annihilation" if they make any "dangerous attempt."
LaCamera said a future conflict on the Korean Peninsula would impact the entire globe.
"If the conflict were to resume, its impact will reverberate throughout the world. That is because a conflict on the peninsula will not be isolated. It will be a global challenge," said LaCamera, who also heads the United Nations Command in Korea and the U.S.-South Korea Combined Forces Command.
He said his best "military advice" for the allies is to further strengthen their alliance.
"The alliance embraces coalitions. Coalition of forces gives us strategic depth and embodies international legitimacy that is based on international rules and arrangements," LaCamera said.
He also underscored a need to expand the bilateral alliance into a "multinational" and "multidimensional coalition."
"This will enable us to better deter DPRK and maintain a rules-based international order with an eye on China and Russia," the USFK commander said.
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