Incumbent President's First Visit to Ground Operations Command
"Invasion Must Be Recognized as the End of the North Korean Regime"
President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the Ground Operations Command in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of the 21st, the third day of the South Korea-U.S. Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, and took a commemorative photo with the South Korean and U.S. soldiers participating in the exercise. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 21st, "The North Korean regime is the most irrational group on Earth that can provoke at any time," adding, "Only our military's strong security posture can prevent their miscalculations."
On the third day of the 'Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS)' exercise, President Yoon visited the Army Ground Operations Command (GOC) in the afternoon to inspect the military readiness and exercise status, and encouraged the ROK-US soldiers participating in the exercise.
The Army GOC commands and controls about 250,000 troops, which is more than half of our armed forces. In peacetime, it deters North Korean provocations through training, combat readiness, and ground surveillance operations. In wartime, as the Combined Ground Forces Command, it leads the ROK-US ground forces and serves as a key unit for national defense.
This is the first time a sitting president has visited the GOC since its establishment in 2019 by merging the 1st and 3rd Field Army Commands. Upon arrival at the GOC headquarters, President Yoon wrote in the guestbook, "At the center of the battlefield, at the forefront of unification! I am proud and reassured by the Ground Operations Command soldiers."
President Yoon Suk-yeol visited the Ground Operations Command in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of the 21st, the third day of the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, and wrote a message in the guestbook. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon visited the Combat Operations Headquarters and said, "All soldiers must be armed with the conviction to protect the lives and safety of our people and the liberal democratic system," emphasizing, "We must firmly make the North Korean regime, which dreams of communist unification and is constantly eyeing the Republic of Korea, recognize that 'invasion means the end of the regime.'"
He continued, "The UFS exercise is important for checking the readiness to conduct a total national war and strengthening the combined defense posture to realize 'peace through strength,'" explaining, "Our government has revived the UFS exercise, which was suspended for three years, to solidify readiness, and this year marks the third time, with exercises and training becoming more systematic."
President Yoon said, "The ROK-US soldiers dedicated to the exercise are the foundation of the combined defense posture and the core of the ROK-US alliance," adding, "As the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, I fully trust you and hope you achieve great results through substantive exercises." He also shouted the slogan, "Let's go together! We go together."
At the Combat Operations Headquarters, President Yoon personally shook hands with about 70 ROK-US soldiers participating in the exercise to encourage them. According to a written briefing by Presidential Spokesperson Jeong Hye-jeon, the ROK-US soldiers welcomed President Yoon with loud applause upon his arrival.
From the left, In Seong-hwan, Deputy Director of the National Security Office, Christopher Lanev, Commander of the U.S. 8th Army, Son Sik, Commander of the Ground Operations Command, President Yoon, Paul Lucamera, Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, Kang Shin-chul, Deputy Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, Shin Won-sik, Director of the National Security Office and Minister of National Defense. [Photo by Yonhap News]
After taking commemorative photos with President Yoon and the ROK-US soldiers, he emphasized, "Peace is always granted when we prepare and get ready for war," adding, "There is absolutely no such thing as free peace." He also encouraged them by saying, "The ROK-US alliance is regarded as the most successful alliance in human history," and "Through this training, I hope the ROK-US soldiers build deep friendship and arm themselves with strong comradeship."
During his visit to the Fires Command next to the Combat Operations Headquarters, President Yoon stressed, "In the early stages of war, suppressing long-range artillery and missile bases is most important," ordering overwhelming firepower readiness.
Attending President Yoon's inspection of the GOC were General Son Sik, Ground Operations Commander; General Paul LaCamera, Commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command; Lieutenant General Kang Shin-chul, Deputy Commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces; and Lieutenant General Christopher LaNeve, Commander of the US Eighth Army. From the Presidential Office, National Security Office Director and Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik, Deputy Director of the National Security Office In Seong-hwan, and Defense Secretary Choi Byung-ok were present.
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