S. Korea confers state medal on U.S. Army Pacific commander

South Korea on Thursday conferred a state medal on Gen. Charles A. Flynn, commander of the U.S. Army Pacific, for his efforts to develop the bilateral alliance and maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula. Defense Minister Shin Won-sik awarded Flynn the Tongil Medal, the highest class in the Order of National Security Merit, on behalf of the government in a ceremony at the defense ministry's headquarters in central Seoul, according to the ministry. It said Flynn contributed to improving the allies' combined operational capabilities since he took office in June 2021, noting that he actively offered support for their regular combined exercise last year held at the largest scale ever. "During his term, (Flynn) provided support for the combined South Korea-U.S. forces to maintain the highest level of readiness amid advancing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea," it said in a release. Shin requested Flynn's continued support for the alliance, and the U.S. general vowed to continue to provide active supp ort to strengthening it, according to the ministry. Source: Yonhap News Agency