The 188th Meeting of the SOFA Joint Committee was held at the Conference Room of the US military base in Yongsan, Seoul, on June 14. The Korean and US Chairmen of the Committee, MOFAT's Director-General for North American Affairs Kim Hyoung-zhin and Deputy Commander of the U.S. Forces Korea Jeffrey A. Remington, presided over the Meeting attended by the Chairmen of the Subcommittees and other relevant officials.
Officials from major relevant government agencies, including the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, took part in the Meeting. The Joint Committee is the official consultative framework on SOFA convened annually since its establishment on February 9, 1967, under Article 28 of SOFA for ROK-US consultations on the implementation of the Agreement.
In the Meeting, the two sides reviewed and exchanged views on the progress on major issues, including the ROK-US joint investigation into the reported burial of Agent Orange, allowing private flights to operate at the U.S. Air Force base in Gunsan, and relocation of the Yongsan Garrison. With regard to the joint investigation on Camp Carroll, the two sides, clearly perceiving the gravity of the issue linked directly to the public health and safety, agreed to exert joint efforts to conduct the probe in a thorough and transparent manner. The Korean side, in particular, suggested that the current SOFA be faithfully applied to verify the facts and implement follow-up measures, and ways to improve SOFA be examined when deemed necessary.
The two sides exchanged views on the possibility of allowing Korea's private flights to operate at the U.S. Air Force base in Gunsan, and agreed to work closely together in a bid to help discussions on the operation of domestic and international flights proceed smoothly. The Korean and the US delegations reviewed the progress in the relocation of the Yongsan Garrison and agreed to work together toward its early completion.
The Meeting, held timely amid the ongoing ROK-US joint investigation into the reported burial of Agent Orange, is seen to have served as an opportunity for the two sides to review and assess the progress in the joint investigation, and pledge a thorough and transparent probe; and to reaffirm the willingness for close cooperation in improving SOFA.
