President Roh Moo-hyun says the South Korea-U.S. alliance has never been stronger.

Roh made the comments Thursday in a message commemorating the 26th anniversary of the foundation of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces.

He said that the reconfiguration of U.S. troops on the Korean Peninsula, the relocation of the Yongsan Garrison out of Seoul and the dispatch of South Korean troops to Iraq are being carried out smoothly based on the stronger-than-ever alliance between the two countries.

Roh added that the Combined Forces are the core power of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and that they have been successfully fulfilling their mission of maintaining peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

Roh said he is confident the South Korea-U.S. alliance will further develop into a stronger and more future-oriented relationship.