FORT MYER, Va. —
The U.S.-South Korea alliance is strong, but defense officials will continue to work together to make it stronger yet, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said at an awards ceremony here yesterday.
Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford presented the Legion of Merit to South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and spoke with reporters about the crucial alliance. Before he became defense minister, Jeong was Dunford's counterpart, and the award — the highest award the United States gives to foreign military leaders — recognized his contributions in that position.
Striking a Balance
Jeong was chairman during a crucial time, as North Korea was testing nuclear weapons and developing the rockets needed to deliver those weapons. On the military side, the two allies had to “balance activity in the North and as we began to make some adjustments in support of the diplomatic initiatives to denuclearize the peninsula,” Dunford said.
Jeong is in Washington for talks with U.S. defense leaders. The key issues are preparing for operational control transfer to South Korea. The leaders are also discussing readiness, command and control improvements and assessing the threat from North Korea.
Dunford said that both nations are comfortable with the readiness of the alliance to “fight tonight.”
Jeong thanked Dunford for the…
