Top security adviser says N. Korean denuclearization process is irreversible

North Korea’s denuclearization process has already passed the point of no return, Seoul’s national security adviser Chung Eui-yong said Friday, calling it one of the most significant diplomatic achievements of South Korea and the United States this year."The way I look at it, the denuclearization process of the Korean Peninsula has begun to enter an irreversible phase,” said the head of the National Security Office at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. “North Korea, too, believes this proces

Dec. 21, 2018

Probe team blames faulty mast for marine chopper crash in July

Announcing the final results of its monthslong investigation into the cause of the July crash of a Marine Corps chopper, a team of civilian, government and military experts on Friday cited defects in the rotor mast made by a foreign contractor.Five service members were killed when the MUH-1 Marineon, the Marine variant of the KUH-1 Surion helicopter, crashed shortly after a maintenance checkup at a military airport in the southeastern city of Pohang on July 17. (Yonhap)Investigators conduced a s

Dec. 21, 2018

Moon calls for strong military, alliance with US

The Ministry of National Defense will speed up military reform and the process of easing military tension with North Korea in the coming year, the ministry reported to President Moon Jae-in on Thursday. During the annual policy objective briefing, the Defense Ministry said it will begin preparations for the transfer of wartime operational control from the US in 2019.  President Moon Jae-in attends the Ministry of National Defense`s briefing in Seoul on Thursday. YonhapAt the briefing, Moon said

Dec. 20, 2018

State arms agency seeks to raise anti-corruption index in defense industry

South Korea's state arms agency said Wednesday it has forged a partnership with a local anti-corruption watchdog in a bid to enhance transparency in the defense industry.The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said the government-civilian cooperation with Transparency International-Korea is expected to help efforts to raise the nation's anti-corruption index in the defense industry to those of advanced nations. (Yonhap)The two organizations will exchange information and work together to i

Dec. 19, 2018

Defense minister vows support for sluggish arms industry

South Korea's Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo pledged Friday to strive harder to bolster the sluggish arms industry by capitalizing on the country's technological edge.   Jeong made the remarks amid a growing sense of crisis among local defense firms that has been fanned by declining sales and failure to win overseas projects, such as a bid to supply trainer aircraft to the US military.   "I will make efforts to strengthen support for defense exports in light of military diplomacy and try to e

Dec. 14, 2018

S. Korea, US fail to strike defense cost-sharing deal

South Korea and the US failed to close negotiations on how to share the costs for the stationing of American troops here, an official said Friday, with the allies still at loggerheads on the total amount of money Seoul has to pay.　South Korean negotiator Chang Won-sam and his US counterpart Timothy Betts held the 10th round of meetings from Tuesday to Thursday in Seoul on the renewal of the Special Measures Agreement that is set to expire Dec. 31. 　Under the current SMA, a five-year contract bet

Dec. 14, 2018

Korea's military holds Dokdo defense drills

Despite bad weather, South Korean troops kicked off a regular exercise Thursday to hone their combined capabilities to defend Dokdo, a pair of rocky islets in the East Sea.The two-day maritime drills involve the 3,200-ton Gwanggaeto the Great destroyer and several other Navy and Coast Guard ships. (Yonhap)The military canceled a plan to mobilize such aircraft as F-15K fighter, P-3C maritime surveillance plane and UH-60 helicopter on the day due to inclement weather, according to a Navy official.

Dec. 13, 2018

Hacked lawmaker’s email sent to defense agencies: report

　A South Korean lawmaker’s email account had been hacked by an unidentified group as an alleged attempt to steal classified information from the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, a local newspaper reported. 　According to Donga Ilbo on Tuesday, an unidentified group stole the identity of Rep. Baek Seung-joo of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party and sent an email to the JCS, DAPA and Korea Institute for Defense Analysis, among others. 　The email was rep

Dec. 12, 2018

In a first for the two Koreas, inspectors verify removal of front-line guard posts

　The militaries of the two Koreas inspected each other’s military facilities in a heavily fortified border region Wednesday for the first time since the end of the Korean War, verifying work that took place last month to remove 22 front-line guard posts under an agreement between the two sides. 　According to the Ministry of National Defense, the verification process began at around 9 a.m., after a team of South Korean inspectors crossed the Military Demarcation Line and met with their North Kore

Dec. 12, 2018

Korea, US set to hold 10th round of defense cost talks

South Korea and the United States held another round of negotiations in Seoul on Tuesday over dividing the cost for the stationing of the 28,500-strong USForces Korea (USFK), Seoul officials said.The allies sought to nail down a deal from the 10th round of talks over the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), a cost-sharing contract set to expire at the end of this year. The talks will run through Thursday. Chang Won-sam (left) and US counterpart Timothy Betts. (Yonhap)A sticking point is Washington'

Dec. 11, 2018

Military envisions reform plan that goes beyond NK nuclear threat

　With the two Koreas speeding up their efforts to reduce cross-border tensions and enhance socio-economic ties, the South Korean government is seeking to formulate a new security policy that focuses more on broader threats in the region rather than North Korea’s nuclear program. 　The Ministry of National Defense said Monday that its affiliated agency has been carrying out extensive research that postulates a changed security landscape where North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat no longer exis

Dec. 10, 2018

Korea, US to hold talks on SOFA issues

South Korea and the United States will hold talks next week on issues related to the bilateral agreement governing the legal status of American forces here, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday.The 199th joint committee meeting on the Status of Forces Agreement will be held at Pyeongtaek City Hall on Tuesday. (Yonhap)South Korea will be represented by Kim Tae-jin, director general of the ministry's North American affairs bureau. His counterpart will be Lt. Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach, deputy

Dec. 7, 2018

S. Korea, UAE to hold defense talks to build on ‘strategic partnership’

The defense chiefs of South Korea and the United Arab Emirates are to hold talks Wednesday, as the two countries seek to improve defense cooperation following the decision to establish a strategic partnership earlier this year. According to the Ministry of National Defense, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo will meet with his UAE counterpart Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi. He serves as the UAE minister of state for defense affairs.The meeting is designed to focus on expanding cooperation in defen

Dec. 4, 2018

Military network found to have been stymied during November network blackout

South Korea’s military network was found to have been paralyzed during a massive network disruption last month, sparking criticism over the government’s attempt to downplay the incident that plunged the nation into a chaos.According to a document submitted by the Ministry of National Defense on Monday to an opposition lawmaker, a total of 28 internal military networks came to a halt after a fire at a building of the country’s No. 2 mobile carrier caused a massive blackout on Nov. 25. Among the d

Dec. 3, 2018

Surgeon Lee Cook-jong to become honorary naval commander

Lee Cook-jong, a well-known South Korean trauma surgeon, will be appointed as an honorary commander of the Navy in recognition of his contribution to the military medical service, the Navy said Monday.Adm. Sim Seung-seob, chief of naval operations, plans to host a related ceremony for Lee, head of the regional trauma center at Ajou University Hospital in Suwon, south of Seoul. (Republic of Korea Navy=Yonhap)Lee was first given the position of honorary lieutenant for his successful treatment of a

Dec. 3, 2018

S. Korea kicks off new air drill to replace joint exercise with US

　The South Korean Air Force conducted its own combat drill on Monday in lieu of a suspended combined exercise with the United States, amid concerns that the continued halt of joint training might undermine the allies’ readiness posture. 　According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the South Korean Air Force kicked off a five-day combat drill to replace the Vigilant Ace exercise. The aviation drill was supposed to take place this month, but was suspended in October to support diplomatic efforts to ad

Dec. 3, 2018

Military to change defense minister's helicopter from UH-60 to Surion

The military plans to change the defense minister's helicopter from the US-made UH-60 to the locally developed Surion, a military source said Sunday.The American model has been used as "commander helicopters" for the defense minister as well as the chiefs of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. But calls have arisen to replace it with Surion amid criticism that it makes no sense for South Korea to try to export Surion while it uses UH-60 for top commanders. (Yonhap)"We're considering changing t

Dec. 2, 2018

Govt likely to require 36 months of alternative service for conscientious objectors

　The government is likely to require 36 months of service in correctional facilities as an alternative to military service for conscientious objectors, a local media outlet reported following rancorous debates over the matter. 　According to the Yonhap News Agency, the Ministry of National Defense intends to announce the government’s plan Dec. 13 during a meeting with civilian experts. 　The Defense Ministry has considered two options for the alternative service program: 36 months in correctional

Nov. 28, 2018

Minister says S. Korea-US alliance will buttress ongoing peace efforts

South Korea's Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said Tuesday that its alliance with the United States will serve to buttress ongoing efforts to denuclearize North Korea and build a lasting peace regime on the divided peninsula.Speaking at a forum on the two countries' security partnership, Jeong also said that the envisioned transfer of wartime operational control will offer an opportunity for the alliance to make a "new leap" forward.   Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo (Yonhap)"Facing a transi

Nov. 27, 2018

Korea's arms agency makes export-oriented organizational change

South Korea's arms procurement agency said Tuesday it has created a senior-level post to expand exports of weapons and other defense goods.The appointment of Chung Jae-joon to be in charge of international cooperation is part of the organizational change of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration aimed at promoting overseas arms sales and coping with the "fourth industrial revolution" era. (Yonhap)Chung will oversee the operation of the Defense Export Promotion Center established last wee

Nov. 27, 2018