On Monday, the Commandant of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps visited Washington D.C. at the official invitation of the U.S. Marine Corps. He met with U.S. Marine Corps Commandant General Eric M. Smith to discuss strategies for enhancing joint operational capabilities between the two nations’ forces.
The Marine Corps reported that during bilateral talks on Tuesday, the two commanders exchanged views on practical military cooperation. This included plans to expand joint training exercises and increase personnel exchanges.
They also discussed the Republic of Korea (ROK) Marine Corps’ efforts to develop advanced amphibious operation concepts and acquire both manned and unmanned assets. The commanders agreed to work towards maintaining a robust combined defense posture, even after the transfer of wartime operational control.
Gen. Smith expressed his hope that ongoing personnel exchanges and joint training exercises, such as the Korea-U.S. Marine Corps Exercise Program (KMEP), Exercise Ssangyong, and combined arms training, will continue to bolster security on the Korean Peninsula.
The ROK Marine Commandant also met with key U.S. Marine Corps leaders to further discuss bilateral cooperation. These included Lt. Gen. Jay Bargeron, Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies, and Operations; Lt. Gen. William Bowers, Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; Lt. Gen. Benjamin Watson, Commanding General of Training and Education Command; Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte, Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy; and Lt. Gen. Robert Pilch, Deputy Commandant for Aviation.
During his visit, the ROK Marine Commandant paid his respects at the Korean War Veterans Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Chosin Reservoir Battle Memorial, expressing gratitude to American veterans of the Korean War.
The ROK Marine Commandant emphasized that the strong bond and trust between the two Marine Corps form the bedrock of the ROK-U.S. alliance. It looks forward to continued cooperation across various domains to further develop the capabilities and expand the roles in safeguarding regional security.