US Forces Korea Commander Jay B. Brunson clarified that his recent controversial remark describing South Korea as a "dagger" aimed at China was intended to explain the operational environment.
On May 30, Brunson addressed questions from the Chinese delegation during a session at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, stating, "It was in the context of explaining the operational environment we face."
He emphasized the need to understand not only the perspective of the Korean Peninsula but also how China perceives the region, asserting, "We need to change the perspective of the map." Brunson noted that in US military training, they analyze the operational environment by flipping maps or changing directions to gain various viewpoints on security issues.
Previously, Brunson had sparked strong backlash from China when he remarked on a podcast that from the eastern coast of China, South Korea appears as a dagger located at the heart of Asia.
Following his comments, the Chinese embassy publicly criticized him, and South Korean diplomatic and security authorities reportedly expressed regret to the US side.
The Blue House stated that communication on various issues between South Korea and the US is ongoing.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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