1. With the end of the year ahead, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang, Kyung-wha visited the Osan Air Base, where the Republic of Korea (ROK) Air Force Operational Command and the United States (U.S.) 7th Air Force Command are located, on December 7 to offer encouragement to both ROK and U.S. service members.

2. Minister Kang had a luncheon meeting with ROK and U.S. service members, to whom she extended appreciation for their hard work in defending the airspace of the Korean Peninsula and maintaining the ironclad combined defense posture. During the visit, she met with Commander of the ROK Air Force Operation Hwang Seong-jin and Commander of the U.S. 7th Air Force Kenneth S. Wilsbach.

° Minister Kang stressed that the ROK-US alliance is an all-weather, all-purpose alliance that has taken firm root over the past 66 years based on such shared values as liberal democracy and market economy. She also noted that these ROK and U.S. service members who work together shoulder-to-shoulder everyday are the keys to maintaining the rock-solid ROK-U.S. alliance in the face of any possible challenge. 

° Minister Kang also delivered donations collected by the members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in order to express their appreciation to the service members.

3. In the past, the Minister or Vice Ministers of Foreign Affairs visited military bases in person either toward the end or at the beginning of each year to offer encouragement to the troops. Minister Kang visited the 17th Infantry Division of the ROK Army on February 20, 2019.