The new commander of the U.S. Eighth Army in South Korea took office Friday, with a pledge to support the “ironclad” commitment to the alliance between South Korea and the U.S.

Lt. Gen. Christopher C. LaNeve replaced Lt. Gen. Willard M. Burleson as the commander of the Eighth Army and chief of staff of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command during a ceremony at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul.

Gen. Paul LaCamera, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea and the Combined Forces Command, as well as senior U.S. and South Korean military officials attended the change-of-command ceremony.

“I welcome this opportunity to serve with our ROK allies and will give my full effort in support of the ironclad commitment to the alliance between our nations,” LaNeve said at the ceremony, referring to South Korea’s official name, the Republic of Korea.

LaNeve previously served as the former commander of the U.S. 82nd Airborne Division.

On Monday, Burleson received the Gukseon Medal, the second-
highest class in the Order of National Security Merit, from the South Korean government in recognition of his service in the country. He is set to retire after 36 years of military service next month.

Source: Yonhap News Agency