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| Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, center, walks with 8th U.S. Army commander Lt. Gen. Thomas Vandal, right, and Brig. Gen. Kim Tae-up, deputy commanding general of the ROK-U.S. Combined Division, during her visit to Camp Red Cloud, a U.S. military base for 2nd Infantry Division in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. Kang visited the division to mark the anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War. She lauded the Korea-U.S. alliance during a speech to American soldiers. / Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon |
By Kim Hyo-jin
Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha lauded the alliance between South Korea and the United States in a visit to the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Division (2ID), Sunday.
She visited to mark the 67th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War. It is the first time for the country's foreign minister to visit U.S. forces on the anniversary of the Korean War, the foreign ministry said.
Calling the division "freedom fighters" and "heroes and heroines," Kang filled her speech with colorful expressions of appreciation.
"2ID warriors, thank you for your unswerving commitment and devotion. You are truly second to none," she said.
The visit is seen as Kang's show of commitment to bolstering the Korea-U.S. alliance. It conveys a symbolic meaning as it came ahead of President Moon Jae-in's summit with U.S. President Donald Trump this week.
The two leaders are expected to discuss how to deal with North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. The deployment of a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here, which has been temporarily suspended for an environmental assessment, will be another key topic.
"In the decades after the Korean War, the ROK-U.S alliance has been the guardian of peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, as Vice President Pence said during his visit in April. Our two countries shed blood together. We prosper together," Kang said in a speech to the U.S. soldiers.
Noting that the Korea-U.S alliance stands at a critical juncture due to North Korea's nuclear and missile program, she said, "But I'm confident we can together overcome it. With our ironclad rock-solid alliance and combined defense posture, we can achieve our common goal."
While highly appreciating the U.S. forces' contributions during the Korean War, the minister exemplified the Hungnam Evacuation conducted by the U.S. ship SS Meredith Victory, on which 14,000 refugees were evacuated from the North's territory in December 1950.
Kang said it was code-named "Christmas Cargo," and also known as the "Miracle of Christmas," noting that President Moon's parents were among the refugees. She stressed that Moon will invite veterans of the Hungnam Evacuation on his visit to Washington.
"The Republic of Korea will never forget the noble sacrifice made by U.S soldiers, sailors, airman and marines," she said.
Kang was also briefed about operating arms system and watched a demonstration of combat vehicles.
While taking a ride on an Apache helicopter, Kang asked how American unmanned surveillance vehicles can be compared to North Korea's drones. A U.S. Army official answered, the U.S.'s are "much more capable" and the North's drones are "not even close" to theirs.
The 2ID is known to have fought in a battle at Jipyeong-ri in February 1951 during the Korean War, losing over 7,000 soldiers. The Jipyeong-ri battle became a turning point for the United Nations Command.
It has been stationed in Uijeongbu, north of Seoul, for 52 years. This year marks the 100th anniversary of its establishment.
The 8th U.S. Army commander Lt. Gen. Thomas Vandal welcomed Kang on behalf of 2ID commander Maj. Gen. Theodore Martin, who was on a business trip to the U.S.
Vandal was accompanied by deputy commanding general of the ROK-U.S. Combined Division Brig. Gen. Kim Tae-up, deputy commanding officer of the ROK-U.S. Combined Division Col. Thomas Drew, and acting U.S. ambassador to South Korea Marc Knapper.
