CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea (April 10, 2026) — U.S. and Republic of Korea
service members and civilian inter-agencies from across U.S. Forces Korea (USFK),
Combined Forces Command (CFC), international organizations, and the U.S.
government convened this week for a workshop focused on strengthening coordination
in disaster and human-induced crisis response.
Hosted by the United States Indo-Pacific Command’s Center for Excellence in Disaster
Management and Humanitarian Assistance (CFE-DM) in partnership with the USFK and
CFC, the workshop trained participants on civil-military and humanitarian assistance
operations planning considerations in response to natural disasters and complex
emergencies on the Korean peninsula.
The three-day workshop, Humanitarian Assistance Response Korea (HARK), aimed to
increase CFC readiness and interoperability with the Republic of Korea (ROK) and
interagency partners, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations
by developing a shared understanding and building critical networks and capabilities
prior to a crisis.
Participants explored complex concepts and received best practices and lessons
learned from the United Nations World Food Programme, United Nations Office for the
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and
the United Nations International Organization for Migration.
These efforts ensure that U.S. and ROK forces, alongside international partners, remain
ready to respond rapidly and effectively to future disasters on the Korean Peninsula and
across the Indo-Pacific.
“CFE-DM is proud to support USFK and CFC to enable efficient and effective U.S. and
ROK response capacity building during crisis,” said James Kenwolf, Training and
Engagements Branch Chief for CFE-DM. “We offer a unique civilian-led platform that
encourages broader engagement with the right civilian and humanitarian organizations,
enabling USFK and CFC to build critical networks and capabilities before a crisis.”
CFE-DM has conducted similar workshops and symposiums for USFK and CFC
annually since 2016.
Effective civil-military coordination is essential to saving lives, alleviating suffering, and
minimizing the economic costs of disasters and conflicts.
