American troops stationed in South Korea are fully committed to deterring aggression and provocations from North Korea, the new commander of the United States' Eighth Army here said Tuesday, vowing efforts to toughen joint combat readiness between the allies.
"From its establishment, Eighth Army's mission has been to protect and defend freedom and democracy," Lt. Gen. Thomas Vandal said as he assumed his position as the commander of the Eighth Army, the backbone of U.S. Forces Korea.
"We will be standing side by side with our Republic of Korea counterparts until our mission is complete," he said.
Vandal replaced the outgoing commander of the Eighth Army, Lt. Gen. Bernard Champoux, in a change of command ceremony earlier in the day held at the USFK base in Yongsan, central Seoul, which was attended by USFK Commander Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Mark Lippert and other key former and incumbent military officials from both countries.
With his new role, Vandal also assumed the position as the chief of staff for United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and USFK.
A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Vandal previously served as the commander of the Eighth Army's Second Infantry Division for about two years until April 2015, in charge of defending South Korea's frontline areas.
He has also been the assistant chief of staff for USFK before assuming this latest position.
"The alliance between our two great nations is unshakeable ... and we will work together to continue to strengthen our partnership and alliance," Vandal said in his inauguration speech during the ceremony. "We will conduct tough, realistic training with our South Korean partners so that we will remain ready to fight tonight."
Champoux, the outgoing commander who retired from his military career in the Tuesday ceremony, said "I am grateful for our alliance, what it stands for and to be part of it."
"Our alliance is the strongest it has ever been ... and it has been a great privilege to witness our alliance continue to grow every day," Champoux highlighted. (Yonhap)