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US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman makes surprise trip to DMZ

US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman makes surprise trip to DMZ

Posted November. 14, 2012 01:16,   

한국어

The chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff made a surprise visit to a site near the Demilitarized Zone in the inter-Korean border Sunday, said the U.S. Defense Department.

The Pentagon on Monday (U.S. time) said Gen. Martin Dempsey toured the truce village of Panmunjom and the Peace House within the Demilitarized Zone Sunday, accompanied by Gen. James Thurman, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, and gave words of encouragement to South Korean and American soldiers stationed in the area.

When Dempsey appeared at the meeting place within Panmunjom, North Korean soldiers were seen busily moving around and were at a loss, carrying cameras in their hands, according to the Pentagon. The chairman also visited the Joint Security Area at Panmunjom in July when he visited South Korea in his capacity as Army chief of staff and designate of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The Defense Department said he spoke to his South Korean counterpart Gen. Jung Seung-jo on pending issues in the bilateral military alliance Monday.