South Korea’s Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back visited the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command (CFC) at Camp Humphreys. He stressed the need for a strong readiness posture in the face of evolving security challenges. Ahn met with US Forces Korea (USFK) Commander General Xavier Brunson during his visit.
Ahn highlighted the significance of the allies’ joint defense posture and urged the swift implementation of agreements made during summit talks and defense chiefs’ meetings. The two countries agreed in November to work on a roadmap for the transfer of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul by 2030. The CFC was described as the “heart” of the South Korea-US alliance by Ahn.
The Defence Minister called for a steadfast combat readiness stance in the rapidly changing security landscape. He expressed hope for the CFC to play a central role in enhancing the combined defense posture of South Korea and the US. Ahn also conveyed a new year’s message to South Korean and American troops, thanking them for their contributions to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
USFK Commander Brunson, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), welcomed Ahn for his first official engagement of the year. He pledged to strengthen the ROK–US Alliance to safeguard the Peninsula and promote peace in the region. The defence ministry confirmed that no decision has been made regarding the reported deactivation of a US Army squadron in South Korea, pending consultations with the USFK.
