1. Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha met with incoming Commander of US Forces Korea Robert Abrams at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 20, during which the two sides exchanged views on the Republic of Korea-United States alliance.

2. Minister Kang offered congratulations to the Commander on his inauguration; mentioned that it was the strong ROK-US alliance that had induced the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea to dialogue and had created the current situation; and asked the Commander to contribute to efforts to achieve the shared ROK-US goal of denuclearization and the establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

3. Commander Abrams extended appreciation for warm hospitality; affirmed the ironclad US commitment to the defense of the ROK; and stated that as new Commander, he will continuously support diplomatic efforts of the ROK and the US to achieve denuclearization and establish permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula.

* unofficial translation