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Major General Scott Winter has been appointed as the deputy commander of the United Nations Command in the Republic of Korea.
Last week Major General Scott Winter was selected to serve as the deputy commander of the United Nations Command (UNC) in the Republic of Korea (ROK), starting in January next year.
Admiral David Johnston AC RAN, Chief of the Defence Force, made the appointment, noting that this is a commitment to Australia’s support and consistency in regional security and defence.
“Australia is pleased to make this contribution to the UNC’s strategic leadership, reflecting our steadfast commitment to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula,” ADML Johnston said.
“This appointment will further enable Australia to work closely with the ROK, the United States and other regional partners to pursue our shared values and security interests for regional peace and stability.”
MAJGEN Winter will overtake the current Deputy Commander, Canadian Lieutenant General Derek Macaulay, who has served in the role since December 2023. He is the second Australian to hold the position, with Vice Admiral (Ret’d) Stuart Mayer RAN holding the role from July 2019 to December 2021.
The UNC was established in July 1950 as a response to North Korea’s military aggression against South Korea, with aims to secure peace in the region, facilitate diplomacy and serve as a multinational force in the face of conflict. The UNC is still active, ensuring that the Korean Armistice Agreement is upheld, the Demilitarised Zone remains stable and peaceful dialogue is promoted between the two countries.
Australia has long had defence interests and stakes in the ROK, sending over 18,000 troops following North Korea’s invasion in 1950. Currently, Australia and the ROK have a strong bilateral relationship, with aligned economic interests and commitments to stability on the Korean Peninsula and the wider Indo-Pacific region.
MAJGEN Winter has previously served as the Joint Task Force Commander in 2019 for the North Queensland floods. He has been deployed in Afghanistan, Iraq and Timor Leste as part of his military service.
