Responding to question on what Kim Jong-un wants most from the US, GEN Brooks says “An economic guarantee from the US to protect it from China.” #JFKJrForumLive@harvardiop
Gen. Park Han-ki (L, back row in vehicle), chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Vincent Brooks (R, back row in vehicle), the outgoing commander of U.S. Forces Korea, review troops at a farewell ceremony for Brooks at the JCS headquarters in Seoul on Nov. 6, 2018. (Yonhap)
Kim Jin-ho (L), chairman of the Korean Veterans Association (KVA), shakes hands with outgoing U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Vincent Brooks in Seoul on Oct. 12, 2018, after presenting him with the KVA’s highest insignia, in this photo provided by the association. (Yonhap)
It will be interesting to see how many more requests General Brooks will be receiving from the Moon administration to send materials across the border:
Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, commander of United Nations Command and the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) at an event in Seoul on Wednesday / Yonhap
The U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC) authorized South Korea vehicles and personnel to cross the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) to support construction of communication infrastructure that will be used in inter-Korean business projects.
“Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, Commander of United Nations Command, authorized vehicles and personnel from the Republic of Korea to cross the Military Demarcation Line today in the eastern transportation corridor to support construction of communication infrastructure to be used between the Republic of Korea and North Korea,” said the UNC press release, Thursday.
“The approval allows more material than what is needed to repair communication lines, and will result in the construction of a communication building.” [Korea Times]
It looks like General Brooks is keeping an open mind about this ROK proposal:
Gen. Vincent Brooks, leader of U.S. Forces Korea, the United Nations Command and the Combined Forces Command, attends a press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club, Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018.
The top U.S. commander in South Korea expressed support Wednesday for a plan to remove some guard posts from the tense border, saying it’s a “reasonable” risk that may help denuclearization talks with the North.
South Korea’s defense ministry has said it plans to close about 10 guard posts along the Demilitarized Zone and expects the North to reciprocate as part of a bilateral summit agreement to ease tensions.
Gen. Vincent Brooks — who wears three hats as the leader of U.S. Forces Korea, the United Nations Command and the Combined Forces Command — said he supports the initiative to reduce tensions and build trust between the rival nations.
“I have some concerns about what that means militarily to the ability to defend along the Military Demarcation Line and in depth beyond it,” he said at a press conference at the Seoul Foreign Correspondents’ Club.
“I believe that there’s a reasonable amount of risk that’s involved in this, not an excessive amount of risk,” to the defense of South Korea, he said. [Stars & Stripes]
Leave it to General Brooks to dispel media hyperbole about the cancellation of UFG:
Gen. Vincent Brooks, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea, speaks during a forum in Seoul on June 27, 2018. (Yonhap)
The chief of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) on Wednesday dismissed concerns that the recent decision by Seoul and Washington to suspend their combined military exercises would lead to an end of all other allied drills and weaken deterrence capabilities.
Gen. Vincent Brooks defended the decision, noting that the suspension appears intended to help the allies build trust with North Korea and add “greater effectiveness” in ongoing diplomacy on the communist state’s denuclearization.
“I don’t anticipate that this is an end of all exercises and training as we know it, but rather these visible exercises that are right up front that may cause unnecessary irritation at a time when the need for trust building is so important,” he said during an alliance forum in Seoul.
“I will eliminate the doubt and concerns about all military training going away. I don’t have any such instruction coming my way. I don’t feel that is the spirit of our leaders but rather to create a room for them to be able to navigate the way forward … to give them room if this helps set the conditions for them to have greater effectiveness in their dialogue and discussions,” he added. [Yonhap]
4-Star General Vince Brooks to step down from RoK-US Combined Forces Command in July or August per Joongang for "personal reasons." Brooks made his decision known to DoD sources and let his acquaintances know that he'll be leaving in the 2nd half of 2018.https://t.co/JtU0aqTPVT
In the VIP seats in the PyeongChang Olympic Stadium Sunday night, President Moon Jae-in, left, and first lady Kim Jung-sook, second from left in front row, applaud while watching the closing ceremony for PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games. Ivanka Trump, third from left in front row, daughter of U.S. President Donald Trump, and Kim Yong-chol, right in back row, North Korean chief delegate, also applaud. [YONHAP]It had to be uncomfortable for General Brooks sharing a VIP box with someone like Kim Yong-chol who planned the murder of 46 South Korean sailors.
U.S. Vice President Mike Pence visits the Cheonan Memorial at the West Sea Protection Hall, in Pyeongtaek, Korea, Feb. 9, where he was escorted by Mr. Kim, Lok hyun, museum director. Vice President Pence toured the museum, along with Vincent K. Brooks, commanding general U.S. Forces Korea, Combined Forces Command, United Nations Command and Gen. Kim, Byeong Joo, deputy commander, Combined Forces Command, and visited the memorial dedicated to the 46 crewmen from the Cheonan warship who lost their lives in 2010 members who lost their lives. (U.S. Army Photos by Staff Sgt. David Chapman, USFK)
