Everything Good Between USFK and Korea
According to USFK Commander General LaPorte there is no cracks in the US-ROK Alliance.
The alliance between South Korea and the United States remains solid, Gen. Leon J. LaPorte, commander of the United States Forces Korea (USFK), said Friday.
During a meeting with some 20 domestic political experts and leaders of civic groups at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul, the USFK chief stressed the half-century alliance between the two countries is strong, said Kim Young-gyu, spokesman for the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC).
“Some are worried that the Seoul-Washington military alliance is weakening, but it’s not true,’’ LaPorte was quoted as saying by Kim. “There is no crack in the alliance as long as both countries share the same goal of maintaining security and stability on the Korean Peninsula.’’
I would say he is correct if commenting on a military stand point because the relationship between the US military and the ROK Army is solid. Politically is where the problems are.
At this level (4 star), military and political considerations are inextricably mixed. Particularly considering the audience (ROK domestic political experts and leaders of civic groups).
It would be interesting (but probably impossible due to time & effort involved) to go back over the minutes of similar such meetings in the past (if there were any) to see if previous USFK commanders felt the need to make such statements. Say, during the 60's and 70's.
My guess would be that they didn't, which tells you something IMO.