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| U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech to service members of U.S. troops and the Republic of Korea military members in Osan Air Base, Sunday, after he came to the base right after his third summit with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un at the Demilitarized Zone in the inter-Korean border. Yonhap |
By Jung Da-min
U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed the alliance with South Korea during a speech to U.S. troops in Osan Air Base, Sunday, right after his third summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at Panmunjeom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Trump was paying a two-day visit to South Korea at the weekend to hold his eighth summit with President Moon Jae-in.
"We go together. We go together," Trump reiterated the symbolic chant of the seven-decade old ROK-U.S. alliance.
"Many of our soldiers here today also serve with the 2nd Infantry Division/ Republic of Korea-U.S. Combined Division, the only forward base army division integrated with allied troops," he continued, referring to the ROK Army personnel on staff at 2nd Infantry Division since 2015, when the combined division was formed with the U.S. 2ID and the ROK 16th Mechanized Brigade.
Trump expressed his appreciation of 2ID/RUCD's service, especially thanking them for their help in putting out wildfires in Gangwon Province in April.
Talking about the components of the United States Forces Korea (USFK), he specifically mentioned two U.S. airmen who were born in South Korea before moving to the U.S. and eventually becoming American citizens, and then joining the U.S. Air Force.
Praising U.S. soldiers for their contribution to keeping peace on the Korean Peninsula, Trump said he had a historic moment at the DMZ where he stepped into North Korea with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. He added he has made a "tremendous team" for negotiations with the North.
"We're now going to work on something. We have a tremendous team who know how they're going to do, we're going to put them in charge and Secretary Mike Pompeo is here," he said bringing the U.S. secretary of state and also Trump's daughter Ivanka onto the stage.
At the inter-Korean border, Trump also visited Observation Post Ouellette in Camp Bonifas at the Joint Security Area (JSA) with President Moon Jae-in, which is just 25 meters from the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) to meet U.S. and South Korean soldiers in the border area, before Kim arrived at Panmunjeom. Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and USFK chief Gen. Robert Abrams accompanied the presidents.
President Moon praised Trump's efforts to bring peace to the peninsula calling Trump a "peacemaker." Moon, at the summit with Trump, also said the South Korea-U.S. alliance was a comprehensive one that not only included security but also economic and other ties.
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| U.S. President Donald Trump shows a jacket he received as a gift from troops at Camp Bonifas in the Demilitarized Zone, Sunday. AP-Yonhap |
Meanwhile, Trump also emphasized the U.S. military's latest equipment such as ships, fighter jets and military helicopters during his meeting with the heads of some South Korean conglomerates at the Grand Hyatt Seoul Sunday morning. This was held just before his eighth summit with President Moon at Cheong Wa Dae.
"We built a military now stronger than it has ever been," he said. "We have brand new fighter jets, brand new ships, brand new military equipment for the soldiers, very important … with the greatest military in the world. Nobody close."
Trump also mentioned the F-35 fighter jets that South Korea's Air Force has been deploying. The Republic of Korea Air Force is testing the first two of the cutting-edge F-35A Lightning II, which arrived March 29 at a base in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. Eight more are set to be delivered by the end of the year. This follows South Korea announcing a deal to buy 40 F-35 fighters in a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) deal worth about $6.1 billion in September 2014.
He also said that South Korea is agreeing to "reimburse" the U.S. for some of the costs it has incurred for stationing what he described as "42,000" United States Forces Korea (USFK) personnel here.
The number Trump mentioned is higher than the actual figure of about 28,500 stated in the U.S. Defense Department's Defense Manpower Data Center's December 2018 report.
"We're spending a lot of money and the money that hasn't been reimbursed, and they're agreeing to reimburse us for some of this because … now we have 42,000 soldiers," Trump said during the meeting with the conglomerate heads.
"I just want to tell you that you are a friend, and I've had a tremendous relationship. President Moon has treated me and our country with great respect, which I appreciate, because we're doing a lot for you."
Trump said the South Korea-U.S. alliance was stronger than ever and the security situation on the Korean Peninsula has made a lot of progress since he was inaugurated as U.S. president.
"For decades, the South Korea-U.S. alliance has advanced peace and security in this region and far beyond. Today our partnership is stronger than ever before," he said.
He said his meetings with Kim reduced tensions on the peninsula that were evident before he became president.
