(ATTN: UPDATES with arrival, remarks; CHANGES headline, lead, photo)

By Oh Seok-min and Chae Yun-hwan

YEONGJONGDO/SEOUL, July 30 (Yonhap) -- New U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel said Thursday the South Korea-U.S. alliance stands as one of the strongest in the world, pledging efforts to further develop the decadeslong alliance.

Steel made the remarks shortly after her arrival at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, to assume her post as the first U.S. envoy to Seoul since President Donald Trump returned to office in January last year.

"Our alliance was forged in war and secured by blood of those who stood shoulder to shoulder to defend freedom. It has been proven again and again through unwavering trust," she said. "Today it stands as one of the world's strongest alliances."

"I look forward to working with the Republic of Korea to ensure that our ironclad alliance remains the linchpin of peace and security in the region."

Her arrival comes as Seoul and Washington face a series of pending security and economic issues, including South Korean investment pledges in the U.S., civilian nuclear cooperation, Seoul's push to build nuclear-powered submarines and tensions over Seoul's regulatory action against U.S.-listed Coupang.

She was nominated by Trump in April and confirmed by the U.S. Senate last month. The ambassadorial post had been vacant since her predecessor, Philip Goldberg, left South Korea in January last year.

graceoh@yna.co.kr

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr

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