The deputy commander of United Nations Command, Lieutenant General Scott Winter, recent visit to the East-West Center 11 May underscored the enduring value of multilateralism on the Korean Peninsula and the contemporary relevance of the 75-year-old command.
LTGEN Scott Winter, an Australian officer serving as UNC deputy commander, met with East-West Center scholars and journalists during the Land Forces Pacific Symposium to discuss the role 18 Member States continue to play in Korean Peninsula stability.
Winter described UNC as a standing multilateral arrangement that brings additional capability, willpower and credibility to deterrence in the region. He noted that allies and partners contribute mass across emerging domains, including cyber and space, and offer complementary authorities that strengthen the overall security architecture alongside the U.S.-Republic of Korea Alliance.
“The beauty of United Nations Command is the sort of nations it brings together,” Winter said, citing North America Treaty Organization members, Five Eyes partners and regional nations as Thailand and the Philippines among the Member States. He said continued commitment from all 18 Member States reflects both respect for past sacrifice and recognition of UNC’s role today.
Winter highlighted New Zealand’s contribution as a model of partner investment, noting Wellington maintains embedded staff officers in the headquarters and rotates a platoon onto the peninsula for bilateral and multilateral training with Republic of Korea forces. He also pointed to recent engagements with counterparts in France, the Netherlands and Belgium, where senior leaders reaffirmed their commitment to UNC.
The deputy commander recommended the UNC’s Demilitarized Zone Education and Orientation Program—specifically sites like Observation Post Dora—as a vital educational venue for those visiting South Korea. By observing the security environment within the DMZ firsthand, participants gain a deeper appreciation for the stability that serves as the foundation for the nation’s cultural and economic vitality. He recalled accompanying Korean War veterans at recent Kapyong and Imjin commemorations, where former soldiers reflected that their sacrifices had been worth it.
Winter said UNC’s exercise design and symposium series will continue to expand collaboration in the information and cyber domains, areas the 1953 Armistice Agreement did not contemplate but which now shape the regional security picture. He thanked the East-West Center for its sustained focus on Indo-Pacific security and the Korean Peninsula.
| Date Taken: | 05.11.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 05.13.2026 19:51 |
| Story ID: | 565120 |
| Location: | HONOLULU, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 50 |
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