Shelton said land mines are vital to the protection of U.S. interests in South Korea; thousands of land mines are scattered throughout the demilitarized zone separating that country from North Korea. He added that anti-personnel mine, scattered between mines designed to destroy advancing tanks were necessary implements of defense policy.

In addition, Shelton asserted in principle the idea of a U.S. ballistic missle defense system. If "we could afford it and the technology was available, I'd be a fan of that," he said.

The general estimated that a feasable missile defense system would be possible no less than six years from now.

President Clinton appointed Shelton the 14th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs at a time when the military has trimmed 700,000 people from its payroll in the past seven years and plans to cut at least 60,000 more positions.

Shelton is considered by many to be a solider's solider: he was won several of the military's most distinguished combat honors, served two tours in Vietnam, served as the Commander in Chief of the U.S. Special Operations Command, and earned a Purple Heart.

Since October, Shelton has been meeting with commanders of the U.S. unified commands to get their take on the state of the world, said Captain Stephen R. Pietropaoli, a special assistant for public affairs at the Pentagon.

Pietropaoli said Shelton's 30 years in the military had given him plenty of opinions "to spout," but "now he speaks as the Chairman."

Shelton replaced John M. Shalikashvili, accstlaimed for his diplomatic ability, as the Joint Chiefs chair.

Observers in the mostly male Forum audience noted Shelton's distinct style.

"He's a rugged individualist," said Jim R. Petite, a neurphysiologist who said he would follow the general's actions with interest "because he's not trained in response to this."

"He's less of a diplomat and morJe of a "take charge kind of guy," Petite said