[Feature] Evergreen Unit remembered for peacemaking operations in East Timor 20 years ago

Two decades have passed since South Korean troops were dispatched to East Timor, officially known as Timor-Leste, on peacemaking operations in the newly independent country.While the Evergreen Unit of South Korea was stationed in East Timor from 1999 to 2003 to help it settle as an independent nation, traces of the troops’ legacy remain.When South Korea’s delegation from the Defense Ministry visited the country to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the deployment of the Evergreen Un

Oct. 13, 2019

Navy seeking to secure nuclear-powered submarines for self-defense capabilities

The Navy said Thursday it has been running a task force on the potential construction of nuclear-powered submarines as part of efforts to bolster its nuclear deterrent and boost defense capabilities."With longer-term perspectives to have nuclear-powered submarines, we have been running a task force of our own," the Navy said in a report presented to lawmakers for a parliamentary audit."As the matter will be decided in accordance with national policy, the Navy will work closely wit

Oct. 10, 2019

US surveillance aircraft on missions over the Korean Peninsula: aviation tracker

The United States flew E-8C surveillance aircraft over areas near the Korean Peninsula, an aviation tracker said Thursday, on an apparent mission to collect intelligence regarding North Korea.Two E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System aircraft arrived at Kadena Air Base in Japan's Okinawa on Sunday "to resume missions over the Korean Peninsula," Aircraft Spots said in a Twitter post. The aircraft flew over Japan on Wednesday and took off from the base again later in the day

Oct. 10, 2019

S. Korea's JCS chief vows stern responses to any violation

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki on Tuesday vowed stern responses to any violations by Japan of South Korea's airspace over the easternmost islets of Dokdo."Should Japanese warplanes violate our airspace over Dokdo, we will take stern countermeasures as far as related law allows and in accordance with our manuals," Park said in an answer to lawmakers' questions during a parliamentary audit. Any violation by Japan of the airspace over Dokdo would be considered intentional

Oct. 8, 2019

S. Korean, US JCS chiefs to hold annual talks in Seoul next month

The military chiefs of South Korea and the United States plan to hold their annual talks in Seoul next month to discuss regional security situations and a wide range of alliance issues, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday.JCS Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki and his US counterpart Gen. Mark Milley are scheduled to hold the 44th Military Committee Meeting (MCM) in Seoul on Nov. 14, the JCS said in a report for a parliamentary audit.The MCM is held every year before the defense ministers of the tw

Oct. 8, 2019

S. Korea, Russia pushing to set up military hotline: JCS

South Korea and Russia have been pushing to set up a military hotline between their air forces as part of efforts to prevent any accidental entry into each other's air defense identification zones, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday.The two countries are scheduled to hold a joint defense committee meeting later this month to discuss the signing of a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the hotline to exchange their flight information, the JCS said in its report for a parli

Oct. 8, 2019

Defense chief to visit Oman for ministerial talks this week

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo was set to leave for Oman on Monday for talks with his counterpart about ways to boost cooperation in defense and arms industry fields, his office said.During his two-day visit, Jeong plans to meet with his Omani counterpart, Sayyid Badr bin Saud, and sign a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation between the two countries, according to the Seoul ministry. The minister is also scheduled to visit the Cheonghae Unit, a 300-strong South Korean contingent

Oct. 7, 2019

S. Korea, US, Japan agree to address mutual security concerns

The chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of South Korea, the United States and Japan agreed to address mutual security concerns during their meeting in Washington this week, the US JCS said Wednesday.The trilateral meeting on Tuesday -- involving South Korea's JCS Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki and his US and Japanese counterparts, Gen. Mark Milley and Gen. Koji Yamazaki -- came amid tensions over Seoul's decision to pull out of a military intelligence-sharing pact with Tokyo.The talks were arranged

Oct. 3, 2019

Cheong Wa Dae says N. Korea seems to have fired SLBM

South Korea's National Security Council expressed strong concern Wednesday about North Korea's test of what is believed to be a submarine-launched ballistic missile.In connection with North Korea's firing of a projectile earlier in the day, the NSC is placing "weight on the possibility" that it was a SLBM test, Cheong Wa Dae said.It was giving a briefing on the results of an emergency NSC standing committee session, presided over by Chung Eui-yong, head of the national security office.

Oct. 2, 2019

S. Korea strongly protests Japan's claim over Dokdo, vows stern response

South Korea's defense ministry on Tuesday rejected Japan's renewed territorial claim to the South's easternmost islets of Dokdo and vowed to respond sternly to any attempts to infringe on its rights.Earlier in the day, Japan called in a South Korean military attache stationed in the country and lodged a complaint over South Korean F-15K fighter jet's patrol flight over Dokdo as part of the ceremony to mark the 71st Armed Forces Day. "As Dokdo is our inherent territory historically, geograph

Oct. 1, 2019

Moon highlights peace through strength on Armed Forces Day

President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday stressed the need for strong defense capabilities at the 71st Armed Forces Day celebrations.“Peace is not something that is defended, but created. Our military’s iron-clad security supports dialogue and cooperation, and enabled (the country) to boldly walk toward permanent peace,” Moon said. He went on to list achievements such as the removal of guard posts from the Demilitarized Zone, the recovery of the remains of Korean War dead and the inter

Oct. 1, 2019

S. Korea's F-35As make official debut on Armed Forces Day

South Korea showcased its F-35A stealth fighters to the public for the first time during the Armed Forces Day ceremony Tuesday to officially mark the introduction of the radar-evading high-tech fighters that North Korea has angrily protested.  South Korea has so far brought in eight F-35As, beginning with two in late March, under a plan to deploy 40 fifth-generation jets through 2021. But it has handled their arrivals in a low-key manner, sparking speculation Seoul is concerned about r

Oct. 1, 2019

US rules out redeployment of nukes to S. Korea

A senior US defense official on Monday ruled out the possibility of redeploying nuclear weapons to South Korea to counter North Korea's nuclear threat.Undersecretary of Defense for Policy John Rood made the remark at a forum in Washington as conservative groups in South Korea have renewed calls for the country's own nuclear armament. "We have no current plans to return nuclear weapons to the Korean Peninsula, those that were withdrawn a couple of decades ago, and that's not under discussion

Oct. 1, 2019

[Graphic News] Rights abuses at military barracks on rise over past 5 years: data

　The number of violations of rights cases involving soldiers has been on a steady increase over the past five years, according to government data.　A total of 253 complaints were filed by service personnel with the National Human Rights Commission last year, up from 153 in 2015 and 199 in 2016, though down from 278 in 2017, showed data compiled by the commission and released by Rep. Choi Jae-sung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea.　As of end-July, 367 such cases had been reported for 2019, i

Sept. 30, 2019

Government reviews allowing South Koreans to tour JSA in small groups

South Korean nationals will be able to tour the Joint Security Area in the Demilitarized Zone bordering North Korea in small groups, authorities said Monday.According to an official from the Ministry of Unification, the ministry and other concerned government bodies have begun reviewing a plan to allow small groups of South Korean tourists from the first half of next year. Currently, South Korean nationals wishing to visit the area must apply in groups of more than 30 and fewer than 45. While t

Sept. 30, 2019

S. Korea, Japan jointly take part in multinational maritime exercise

South Korea and Japan jointly participated in a multinational anti-piracy maritime exercise off the coast of Somalia, the Navy said Monday, amid strained relations between the two countries over history and trade rows.The navies from South Korea, Japan, Germany, Spain and Oman launched the joint exercise in the Gulf of Aden from Sept. 23-26 as part of the international coalition's regular joint maneuvers, according to the Navy. The exercise involved diverse maritime operations, such as the so-ca

Sept. 30, 2019

[Herald Interview] US veterans of Korean War recall fiercest, coldest battle at Jangjin Reservoir

For Milton Walker and Henry Schafer, the piercing cold and sound of war that surrounded them remains as clear as if it were yesterday. Returning to the country where they had fought after decades, the two American veterans of the Korean War recalled their experience Friday.“We were surrounded when we were attacked in midnight, and I was hit,” Schafer told The Korea Herald in a joint interview in Seoul. “I was shot four times, on my arms and in the back. The first three bul

Sept. 29, 2019

Seoul criticizes Tokyo for repeating ‘unfair’ claims on Dokdo

South Korea criticized Japan Friday for repeating unilateral disputed defense agendas in its latest defense white paper, including its claims on Dokdo islets.Seoul’s Foreign Ministry released a statement strongly denouncing Tokyo, saying that Japan should realize that its “unfair” and “absurd” claims would not help the bilateral relationship in any way.  “We strongly protest Japan’s claim of unfair sovereignty over Dokdo, that is clearly our territo

Sept. 29, 2019

Military to lower bar for active duty conscripts amid population decline

The South Korean military said Sunday it plans to lower the bar for the conscription of active duty soldiers, as the country's population is widely expected to shrink drastically. The Ministry of National Defense and the Military Manpower Administration are currently in the process of revising related regulations to lower the physical requirements and standards for active duty troops.The measure under review comes amid a precipitate fall in the country's population. The phenomenon is likely to d

Sept. 29, 2019

S. Korea's JCS chairman to visit Washington to meet US counterpart

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Park Han-ki is scheduled to visit the United States next week to attend a change of command ceremony for his US counterpart, his office said Friday.Park will make a four-day visit to Washington starting on Sunday to meet US JCS Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, who is set to hand the reins to Gen. Mark Milley at the conclusion of his four-year term, according to Park's office.   It will be the first time that a South Korean JCS chairman has

Sept. 27, 2019