Gen. Petraeus to be awarded S. Korea's top medal

By Lee Chi-dong
   WASHINGTON, Aug. 26 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to bestow a top state medal on Gen. David Petraeus, who is set to become the head of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), next week for his role in promoting the alliance between the two nations, officials here said Friday.
   South Korean Ambassador Han Duck-soo is scheduled to award the National Security Merit Tongil Medal to the Army general on Monday on behalf of President Lee Myung-bak, they said. The ceremony will be held at Han's official residence in Washington.
   Petraeus is credited with bolstering ties between the armed forces of South Korea and the U.S., especially while serving as commander in Iraq and Afghanistan, where South Korean troops were stationed.
   "Gen. Petraeus made a lot of efforts to improve the conditions for the operation of South Korean troops in Iraq and Afghanistan," an embassy official said.
   A West Point graduate, he has served 37 years in the military.
   He was confirmed by the Senate as the new chief of the CIA to replace Leon Panetta, now secretary of defense.
   He is expected to take up the new post at the end of this month after retiring.



   lcd@yna.co.kr
leechidong@gmail.com
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