By Jun Ji-hye
U.S. President Barack Obama wrote to the Korean chief of the security battalion in the Joint Security Area (JSA) expressing his gratitude for the Korean military’s guard performance during his visit to Panmunjom in March. It was the first time for a U.S. President to send a thank-you letter to the Korean military.
Obama wrote: “I appreciate all of your sincere support and help during my visit to Korea. Your assistance was really helpful to complete my visit,” according to the Defense Ministry, Wednesday. The letter contained the U.S. President’s signature and was written on July 19 and indicated the chief of security battalion Lt. Col. Yoon Bong-hee, 42, as its recipient.
The head of the United Nations Command JSA Security battalion, Lt. Col Daniel Edwan, delivered the letter to Yoon on Aug. 20. The letter, which took a month to arrive, is regarded as an exceptional case given that it was the first letter written to the Korean military by a U.S president.
Panmunjom is north of the Military Demarcation Line, where the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement was signed and discussions between the South and North still take place. At the time of Obama’s visit, the Korean military in the JSA performed the highest level of guard operation.
Yoon escorted Obama to an Observation Post Ouellette in the Demilitarized Zone, the closest point to North Korean forces, with James D. Thurman, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, and Jeong Seung-jo, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also accompanying him. In preparation for the visit Yoon gave a briefing on present conditions to the President.
Obama visited Panmunjom when he attended the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit in March.