Commander,
U.S. Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) conducted a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 19,
officially opening its headquarters in
Busan and ushering in a new era of U.S. and Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN) alliance.
The
ceremony, attended by dignitaries and senior U.S. and ROK military leaders,
marked the completion of CNFK’s relocation to Busan making it the only U.S.
military headquarters in Korea located on a ROK base.
“Five years
in the planning, but 59 years in the making, Commander Naval Forces Korea is
home in Busan,” Rear Adm. Bill Byrne, the commander of CNFK, said. “We are
where we belong, shoulder-to-shoulder with the Republic of Korea Navy.”
The
relocation from Seoul to Busan enhances the alliance between the ROK and U.S.
navies by enabling closer collaboration and communication and reinforces the
strong relationship between the partner navies.
“Together we
will continue to serve this nation, strengthen our friendship, and nurture this
alliance. This partnership, like this building, will stand the test of time,”
Byrne said.
ROKN Vice
Adm. Lee, Ki-sik, the commander of the ROK Fleet in Busan highlighted the
importance of the partnership and the role this move will play in future
operations.
“There is no doubt in my mind that by working together,
face-to-face, in the same location in such critical times, we will further
solidify the ROK and U.S. alliance, and our combined naval operations
capability,” said Lee. “[This move] will play a crucial role in the ROK-U.S.
alliance's maintenance of peace on the Korean peninsula.”
Gen.
Curtis Scaparrotti, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea, took the opportunity to
emphasize the tight bond between the U.S. and ROK combined forces.
“Today’s
ribbon cutting truly represents a new chapter in our alliance,” Scaparrotti
said. “Five years of planning has become reality as our two Naval Commands join
in one location, an act that symbolizes the traits that make our combined force
great; open communication, mutual values, and constant collaboration that were
founded right here so many years ago.”
U.S.
Ambassador, the Honorable Mark Lippert, closed the ceremony by stressing that
CNFK personnel were now part of the Busan community and echoed the overall
sentiment that Busan is the new home for the U.S. Navy in Korea.
“This
[Busan] is our new home,” said Lippert. “We live here among our friends and
neighbors. Our families live here
intimately tied in with our local Busan community. Our children go to school
here growing up together and shaping our futures together. We are here at our new home fully committed
to this alliance.”
CNFK is the
regional commander for the U.S. Navy in the Republic of Korea and provides
expertise on naval matters to area military commanders, including the Commander
of the United Nations Command, the Combined Forces Command, and Commander, U.S.
Forces Korea.
For more
news about Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnfk.