Ten senior naval flag officers, including Vice Adm. Hwang Gi-cheol, commander of Naval Force Operations, and Vice Adm. Scott Van Buskirk, commander of U.S. 7th Fleet, had a meeting at the command and discussed in-depth how to strengthen joint operational capabilities aimed at deterring the North's military provocations and maintaining peace on Korean Peninsula.
Vice Adm. Hwang Gi-cheol, far right, commander of South Korea Naval Force Operations, and Vice Adm. Scott Van Buskirk, second from left, commander of U.S. 7th Fleet discuss measures to reinforce joint operations capabilities at the command on Jan. 18.
In particular, the meeting was the first major military talks for operations command in both countries this year.
During the talks, six detailed agenda were on the table : assessment and development measures for South Korea-U.S. joint military drills, measures to improve joint C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence) operations, developing defense plan for islands on the Yellow Sea, assessment of lessons from the Cheonan sinking and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling, ways to improve intelligence sharing and assessment of maritime training with aircraft carrier on the Yellow Sea.
Both sides agreed to manage and control pending issues in the navy of two countries and planned to keep on carrying out major agenda.
"The meeting was a great opportunity for two countries to strengthen South Korea-U.S. alliance as well as reaffirm solid joint combat capabilities by seeking detailed measures," said a naval officer under the command.
RoK MoD