Elbridge Colby, the U.S. Department of War (Ministry of National Defense) Vice Minister for policy, visited Camp Humphreys, the U.S. Forces Korea base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of the 26th.
Vice Minister Colby was said to have been briefed by Xavier Brunson, the U.S. Forces Korea commander and the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command commander, on plans to transfer wartime operational control, the posture of U.S. Forces Korea, and operational plans.
Colby, a close aide to U.S. President Donald Trump and regarded as a security policy expert, arrived the previous day and will stay in Korea through the 27th.
That morning, he met in turn with Minister Cho Hyun of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wi Sung-lac, director of the Office of National Security, and Minister Ahn Gyu-baek of the Ministry of National Defense, and discussed pending ROK-U.S. alliance issues such as Korea's introduction of nuclear-powered submarines and the transfer of wartime operational control.
Vice Minister Colby was reported to have noted that since taking office in April last year, he chose Korea as the first stop on his first overseas trip, and expressed his intention to strengthen defense cooperation with Korea, a model ally.