Governor meets North Bend soldier in Korea
Published 4:26 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008
Gov. Chris Gregoire toured the Joint Security Area near Panmunjeom Village in the Demilitarized Zone separating North and South Korea Sunday, Oct. 15. While there she met with Washington soldiers, including Brandon Gilmore of North Bend, stationed in the Demilitarized Zone.
“It was an honor for me to spend the day with our soldiers serving in Korea,” Gregoire said. “The situation at the Demilitarized Zone, particularly now, is tenuous and the soldiers who serve there are among the best.”
Gregoire and her husband Mike met with Gilmore and fellow soldiers Brian Lippert of Sequim and Brendan Whalen of Orting. Brian Meyers of Colfax also participated in the tour and is serving elsewhere in Korea.
The Demilitarized Zone crosses the 38th parallel. It is 155 miles long and approximately 2.5 miles wide and is considered the most heavily armed border in the world.
Gregoire departed Washington Friday, Oct. 13, on a seven-day mission to promote Washington products and services in Seoul and Jeonju, South Korea, and Taipei, Taiwan. Gregoire is leading a delegation of Washington business, agriculture and education representatives to these two important markets to strengthen trade relations. The delegation is also working to promote tourism, increase foreign investment and build on educational and cultural relations with South Korea and Taiwan.
