▲ Vice Veterans Minister Lee Hee-wan (L) and Lt. Gen. Derek Macaulay, deputy commander of the U.N. Command (UNC), pose for a photo as they meet at the UNC's headquarters in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, on Jan. 29, 2024, in this photo provided by Lee's office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

veterans official-UN command

Vice veterans minister meets new UNC deputy commander

SEOUL, Jan. 29 (Yonhap) -- Vice Veterans Minister Lee Hee-wan on Monday met with the new deputy commander of the U.N. Command (UNC) to discuss strengthening cooperation on veterans affairs projects commemorating UNC troops.

During the talks with Canadian Lt. Gen. Derek Macaulay at the UNC's headquarters in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, Lee hailed the UNC as a symbol of the international community's "strong" will to defend freedom, according to the ministry.

Lee requested the unit's interest and support in the ministry's projects commemorating U.N. veterans, as well as former and current UNC and U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) personnel, with Macaulay promising close cooperation, the ministry said.

Since 2021, the veterans ministry has invited troops who served in the UNC and the USFK after the end of the Korean War to visit South Korea to thank them for their service.

Macaulay officially took office last month, succeeding British Lt. Gen. Andrew Harrison. The U.S.-led UNC is headed by USFK Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera, who also doubles as the commander of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command.

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