President Moon Jae-in on July 1 takes a commemorative photo after awarding outgoing U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Robert Abrams with the Order of National Security Merit-Tongil Medal at a ceremony hosted by Cheong Wa Dae. (Yonhap News)

By Xu Aiying and Lee Jihae

President Moon Jae-in on July 1 awarded outgoing U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Robert Abrams with the Order of National Security Merit-Tongil Medal.

The president said the Korea-U.S. alliance grew stronger over Gen. Abrams' term and produced big results like the implementation of Pyongyang Joint Declaration of September 2018, and the North Korea-U.S. summit that alleviated tensions on the Korean Peninsula and maintained peace.

President Moon also congratulated the general for successfully leading the USFK, Combined Forces Command and United Nations Command under the Korean name Gen. Woo Byung-soo.

Gen. Abrams mentioned his father, a Korean War veteran, and his two older brothers who served in the USFK, adding that he inherited the family business of helping Korea's national defense.

He called the USFK and their families "lucky" to be stationed in Korea, a country that he called safer than anywhere else in the world amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Welcoming the commander's successor, Gen. Paul LaCamera, the president said he has high expectations for Gen. LaCamera given the latter's experience in working on the front lines in Korea and deep knowledge of national security affairs on the peninsula.

He asked Gen. LaCamera to pay attention to issues in the bilateral alliance such as transition of wartime operational control and return of the land used by the U.S. Army's base in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District. He also asked to achieve results through close communication with the Korean military.

Gen. LaCamera mentioned his experience in the 1990s working next to the Demilitarized Zone, saying he spent many days separated from his family due to working abroad. This time, he said he is glad to work in Korea with his family.

Receiving the baton from his predecessor, the new USFK commander pledged to further develop the bilateral alliance. 

President Moon Jae-in on July 1 awarded a ceremonial sword to outgoing U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Robert Abrams at a ceremony hosted by Cheong Wa Dae. The sword is inscribed with the commander's Korean name Woo Byung-soo. (Cheong Wa Dae's official Facebook page)

xuaiy@korea.kr