By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee 

Minister of Foreign Affairs Cho Tae-yul met with the new Commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), General Xavier Brunson, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), on Jan. 22 and exchanged views on the U.S.-ROK alliance and North Korea issues.

Minister Cho congratulated Commander Brunson on his appointment and urged him to contribute to maintaining and strengthening the ironclad U.S.-ROK alliance and a robust joint defense posture as the commander of the U.S. Forces Korea.

He also called on the commander to work closely with the U.S. and South Korea to ensure that the alliance's achievements, such as containment of North Korea's expansion and Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation, continue to be implemented and developed.

Brunson expressed his appreciation for the warm hospitality and reaffirmed the United States' unwavering commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea.

He also expressed his commitment to maintaining a strong U.S.-ROK joint defense posture through practical joint exercises and emphasized the importance of maintaining the momentum of U.S.-ROK and Korea-U.S.-Japan exercises, which will contribute to stability in the region.

Minister Cho and Commander Brunson also exchanged views on the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, and while recognizing that the current security environment on the Korean Peninsula is more challenging than ever, they agreed to continue to strengthen communication and cooperation to maintain a strong U.S.-ROK alliance and joint defense posture.