Gyeonggi Province Governor Dong Yeon Kim met with new U.S. 8th Army Commanding General Christopher LaNeve and said he will strengthen cooperation between Gyeonggi Province and the U.S. 8th Army and strive to support the stable sojourn of U.S. military personnel in Gyeonggi Province.

On June 17, Governor Kim met with General LaNeve at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government and said, “I believe that U.S. 8th Army soldiers are all Gyeonggi Province residents,” adding, “We will do our best to improve the quality of life for U.S. 8th Army soldiers and fulfill the role that Gyeonggi Province can play in cooperative relations with our residents.”

He continued, “I am concerned about the recent escalation of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and as the Governor of Gyeonggi Province, which borders North Korea, I am taking various measures… The ROK-US alliance is the central axis of the Republic of Korea’s diplomatic strategy. I am deeply grateful for the role of the 8th U.S. Army and ask you to continue to work for peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.”

In response, General LaNeve said, “On behalf of the 8th U.S. Army, I would like to thank Gyeonggi Province for its support and warm welcome,” adding, “I feel a part of the community and look forward to our time together in the future.”

Lieutenant General Christopher LaNeve assumed command of the 8th U.S. Army on April 5. Commissioned in 1990 after graduating from Arizona State University, he has served as Commanding General of the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and Deputy Chief of Staff for U.S. Army Forces Command, Fort Liberty, North Carolina.

Every year, Gyeonggi Province organizes policy discussions to strengthen communication and cooperation with U.S. military officials and to share information. To help U.S. service members and their families integrate into local communities, Gyeonggi Province also promotes various U.S.-Korea exchange and cooperation programs, including Korean language, history and culture education, as well as security and cultural experiences.

In April last year, Governor Kim invited U.S. Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg and then U.S. 8th Army Commanding General Willard M. Burleson III to attend the opening game of the Korea Baseball Organization League at KT Wiz Park in Suwon. City. In September, Governor Kim also met with U.S. General Paul LaCamera, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, U.S. Forces Korea-U.S. Allied Forces Korea and U.N. Forces Korea, and General Burleson at Camp Humphreys to strengthen cooperation between Gyeonggi Province and the U.S. military.