New U.S. commander takes charge in South Korea

Record ID: 1363506

  • Title: New U.S. commander takes charge in South Korea
  • Date: 8th November 2018
  • Summary: ATTENDEES SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW COMMANDER OF U.S. FORCES KOREA (USFK), ROBERT B. ABRAMS, SAYING: "The current conditions on a Peninsula, as the other speakers have said, are dynamic as they have ever been. As we pursue opportunities, it is our military responsibility to maintain a high-level of readiness and fight-tonight capability." ATTENDEES CLAPPING (SOUNDBITE) (English) NEW COMMANDER OF U.S. FORCES KOREA (USFK), ROBERT B. ABRAMS, SAYING: "I am committed to continuing the build on our special relationships with the Republic of Korea and each of the UN sending states and the national contingents as we work together in our collective missions for a peaceful and secure Korean Peninsula." ATTENDEES CLAPPING / ABRAMS SHAKING HANDS WITH JEONG AND SELVA CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY IN PROGRESS BROOKS SHAKING HANDS WITH SELVA/ SELVA GIVING FLAG OF UNITED NATIONS TO ABRAMS ATTENDEES WALKING BACK TO SEATS
  • Embargoed: 22nd November 2018 04:51
  • Keywords: South Korea United Nations Command Combined Forces Command and United States Forces Korea Robert B. Abrams Vincent K. Brooks
  • Location: PYEONGTAEK, SOUTH KOREA
  • City: PYEONGTAEK, SOUTH KOREA
  • Country: South Korea
  • Reuters ID: LVA00395N9J5Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: New U.S. Commander in South Korea, General Robert B. Abrams, took charge on Thursday (November 8) in an inauguration ceremony at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, which lies about 100 km (60 miles) from the border with reclusive North Korea.
    Abrams assumed the command from General Vincent K. Brooks and will oversee about 28,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea. With his current title as the chief U.S. Forces Korea commander, he also serves as the commander of the United Nations Command and the Republic of Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command.
    Earlier this week, the U.S. and South Korean Marines kicked off military drills on Monday (November 5) under the Korean Marine Exchange Program for the first time in months, although larger exercises were suspended, according to the South Korea's Defence Ministry.
    Pyongyang has been pushing for a formal declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War and replace the armistice that stopped the fighting but left the combatants still technically at war. However, there are concerns that North Korea's push for such a declaration could be a ploy to divide the U.S.-South Korea alliance and secure the withdrawal of the U.S. troops based in the South.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2018. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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