Choi Sang-mok Visits ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command CP, Says "Strength of Alliance Felt"

On-site Inspection for the 2025 Freedom Shield Exercise
"Combined Exercises and Training, Symbols of Combined Defense Posture"

Choi Sang-mok, Acting President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Economy and Finance, visited the site of the 2025 Freedom Shield (FS) exercise on March 18. Acting President Choi stated, "I can truly feel the strength of the ROK-U.S. alliance," emphasizing that "combined exercises and training are symbols of a strong combined defense posture and are essential for enhancing deterrence against North Korea."

That afternoon, Acting President Choi visited the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command's wartime command post (CP TANGO, Command Post Theater Air Naval Ground Operations), where he remarked, "Especially this year, through the largest-ever combined outdoor maneuver exercise, we are strengthening interoperability on the battlefield. I would like to thank the ROK and U.S. service members who are diligently carrying out their duties in their respective positions," he said.

After receiving a briefing on the exercise situation in the briefing room, Acting President Choi stated, "The wartime command post of the Combined Forces Command is well-equipped with facilities to command and control the ROK and U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force assets. Seeing ROK and U.S. service members working side by side and fully engaged in the exercise, I can truly feel the strength of the ROK-U.S. alliance."

He continued, "The Republic of Korea rose from the ruins of the Korean War to become a free and prosperous nation, and is the only country to have transformed from a recipient of aid to a donor nation, based on the system of liberal democracy and a market economy." He stressed, "The ROK-U.S. alliance has been a strong pillar supporting Korea's growth and development."

Next, Acting President Choi moved to the Theater Operations Center (TOC), which controls wartime ground, maritime, and air operations, where he toured the headquarters under the guidance of Combined Forces Commander Paul LaCamera. Together with ROK and U.S. service members on site, he concluded the visit by chanting the slogan, "We go together!"

Accompanying Acting President Choi on the visit were Kim Sun-ho, Acting Minister of National Defense; Paul LaCamera, Combined Forces Commander; Kang Shin-chul, Deputy Commander of the Combined Forces Command; and Joseph Yun, U.S. Acting Ambassador. Attending via video conference were Kim Myung-soo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the commanders of each service component, and the Combined Forces Command battle staff.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.