Gen. Brooks: Massive sacrifices during, after Korean War tells real nature of my mission

By Park Boram

SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) -- Gen. Vincent Brooks, the new commander of United States forces stationed in South Korea, said the great number of sacrifices made during and after the 1950-53 Korean War has been "a powerful reminder" of the real nature of his mission as the commanding general.

"It reminded me of the great number of sacrifices that occurred during the Korean War, but sadly the losses that have happened since," Brooks said, referring to his attendance at the South Korean Memorial Day ceremony on June 6, which commemorates patriots who died while in military service during the three-year civil war and other conflicts.

"It was a powerful reminder to me as the commander of the United Nations Command (UNC), the Combined Forces Command (CFC) and US Forces Korea (USFK) and of the real nature of my mission," the general said during a press meeting held at USFK headquarters in Yongsan, central Seoul, on Wednesday, his first press-only event after his inauguration in April.

"What we are doing (in South Korea) is very important to the Republic of Korea and the United States and to the region," the commander said, clad in his combat uniform.

A month earlier, the USFK chief visited the Joint Security Area (JSA), an inter-Korean truce village along the most heavily guarded military buffer between South and North Korea, in his first public outing since assuming command.

"It should give you a very clear feeling of the differences between the North and the South and the danger that still exists," he said, referring to the JSA.

pbr@yna.co.kr
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