READOUT: Pacific Fleet Commander’s travel to Republic of Korea, April 15-16

17 April 2026

From U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, traveled to the Republic of Korea (ROK), alongside Fleet Master Chief Donald L. Davis Jr, April 15-16, 2026, to reaffirm the alliance remains the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific for more than 70 years.

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Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, visits Republic of Korea

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, is greeted by Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul, chief of naval operations, Republic of Korea Navy, prior to a meeting in Seoul, April 15, 2026. The visit to the Republic of Korea reaffirmed the U.S.- ROK alliance as a linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity, built on decades of shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief Don Davis, left, meets with Command Master Chief Joseph Ward, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, April 15, 2026. The visit to the Republic of Korea reaffirmed the U.S.- ROK alliance as a linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity, built on decades of shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, signs the guest book at the Navy Club on Jakjeon Naval Base in Busan, Republic of Korea, April 16, 2026. The visit to the Republic of Korea reaffirmed the U.S.- ROK alliance as a linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity, built on decades of shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Koehler met with senior ROK and U.S. officials to discuss the current security environment in the region and the alliance’s modernization, which is focused on capability investment, and improving readiness, integration, and combined warfighting effectiveness.

The meetings included:

Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul, chief of naval operations, ROK Navy
Vice Adm. Kwak Kwang-sub, acting commander, ROK Fleet
Rear Adm. Sharif Calfee, commander, Naval Forces Korea and Navy Region Korea
Mr. Jim Heller, U.S. Embassy in Seoul Chargé d’ Affaires

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul, chief of naval operations, Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), left, at the ROKN headquarters in Seoul, April 15, 2026. The visit to the Republic of Korea reaffirmed the U.S.- ROK alliance as a linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity, built on decades of shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, meets with Rear Adm. Kwak Kwang-sub, commander, Republic of Korea Fleet (COMROKFLT), at the COMROKFLT headquarters on Jakjeon Naval Base in Busan, Republic of Korea, April 16, 2026. The visit to the Republic of Korea reaffirmed the U.S.- ROK alliance as a linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity, built on decades of shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center right, Rear Adm. Sharif Calfee, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea (CNFK) and Navy Region Korea, center left, and members of their respective staffs pose for a photo prior to a meeting at the CNFK headquarters on Jakjeon Naval Base in Busan, Republic of Korea, April 16, 2026. The visit to the Republic of Korea reaffirmed the U.S.- ROK alliance as a linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity, built on decades of shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, receives an update on construction progress of the new Commander, U.S. Naval Forces (CNFK) headquarters from Rear Adm. Sharif Calfee, commander, CNFK, left, and Cmdr. Mark Roussel, engineering and expeditionary chief of staff, CNFK, center, on Jakjeon Naval Base in Busan, Republic of Korea, April 16, 2026. The visit to the Republic of Korea reaffirmed the U.S.- ROK alliance as a linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity, built on decades of shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Koehler participated in a trilateral meeting with Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul, chief of naval operations, Republic of Korea Navy, and Adm. Akira Saito, chief of staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in Seoul to discuss security challenges on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific. They focused on various ways to deepen their cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the region. The U.S., Japan, and ROK are committed to defending vital interests against shared threats by promoting security cooperation, improving information sharing, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, and deterring aggression.

From left to right: Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Adm. Kim Kyung-ryul, chief of naval operations, Republic of Korea Navy, and Adm. Akira Saito, chief of staff, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), pose for a photo prior to a trilateral dinner in Seoul, April 15, 2026. During the trilateral dinner at the ROKN chief of naval operations' official residence in Seoul, the three admirals discussed ways to collaborate among the ROKN, USN, and JMSDF to deter and enhance interoperability. The U.S., Japan, and ROK are committed to defending vital interests against shared threats by promoting security cooperation, improving information sharing, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, and deterring aggression. (Photo courtesy of the Republic of Korea Navy)

In Busan, Koehler and Davis visited Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6), to review progress on its current maintenance availability. They also met with Sailors and Civilians assigned to Commander, Naval Forces Korea to discuss Adm. Koehler’s Fleet Orders and recognize their professionalism and teamwork in carrying out their duties to support this strong alliance.

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, and Rear Adm. Sharif Calfee, commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea and Navy Region Korea, center left, receive an overview of ship maintenance progress from Min-ho Yoon, part manager, HJ Shipbuilding & Construction, aboard Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6), while moored at Yeongdo Shipyard Busan, Republic of Korea, April 16, 2026. The visit to the Republic of Korea reaffirmed the U.S.- ROK alliance as a linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity, built on decades of shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, right, receives an overview of ship maintenance progress from Min-ho Yoon, part manager, HJ Shipbuilding & Construction, aboard Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6), while moored at Yeongdo Shipyard Busan, Republic of Korea, April 16, 2026. The visit to the Republic of Korea reaffirmed the U.S.- ROK alliance as a linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity, built on decades of shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, is greeted by Andrew Graff, shipmaster, Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6), prior to a tour of the ship while moored at Yeongdo Shipyard, Busan, Republic of Korea, April 16, 2026. The visit to the Republic of Korea reaffirmed the U.S.- ROK alliance as a linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity, built on decades of shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, center, and U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief Don Davis, left, speak to Sailors about the importance of professionalism during an all-hands call at the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea headquarters on Jakjeon Naval Base in Busan, Republic of Korea, April 16, 2026. The visit to the Republic of Korea reaffirmed the U.S.- ROK alliance as a linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity, built on decades of shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

Adm. Steve Koehler, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, left, and U.S. Pacific Fleet Master Chief Don Davis, center, answer a question from a Sailor during an all-hands call at the Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Korea headquarters on Jakjeon Naval Base in Busan, Republic of Korea, April 16, 2026. The visit to the Republic of Korea reaffirmed the U.S.- ROK alliance as a linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity, built on decades of shared values, mutual respect, and a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Christopher Sypert)

The visit to the Republic of Korea reaffirmed the U.S.- ROK combined forces remain postured, ready, and capable to protect the ROK against any threat or adversary.