Korea, US begin talks on sharing defense costs

South Korea and the United States opened another round of negotiations Wednesday on sharing the cost of American troops stationed on the Korean peninsula amid differences over how much Seoul should pay.Senior diplomats of the allies started the two-day session at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses in Seoul at around 10 a.m., officials said. It's the sixth round of talks this year aimed at deciding new terms related to South Korea's financial burden for the US Forces Korea.It comes as Washi

Aug. 22, 2018

Seoul seeks to stop referencing NK as ‘main enemy’ in defense paper

With the South Korean government accelerating its efforts to reduce tension and build trust with North Korea, the military is seeking to stop referencing North Korea as its official enemy in a defense paper to be published this year. 　Citing unidentified multiple government sources, Yonhap News Agency reported Wednesday that the 2018 defense white paper would no longer describe North Korea as a main enemy in a bid to fulfill its pledge to stop hostile acts against North Korea. 　The Ministry of N

Aug. 22, 2018

Korea to withdraw about 10 DMZ guard posts on trial basis

Defense Minister Song Young-moo said Tuesday that Seoul will withdraw about 10 border guard posts on a trial basis, in line with the April inter-Korean summit agreement to transform the Demilitarized Zone into a "peace zone."Song did not give a specific timeline for the measure aimed at reducing military tensions and building trust with the communist state, while noting that Pyongyang will also take reciprocal steps in the buffer zone separating the two Koreas. (Yonhap)"What it means is that we

Aug. 21, 2018

Korea, US to hold talks on sharing defense cost

South Korea said Monday it will hold another round of negotiations with the United States this week on sharing the cost of American troops stationed on the peninsula.The two-day session, the sixth of its kind this year, will take place in Seoul from Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.It comes amid Washington's call for Seoul to sharply increase its share of the cost of stationing the US Forces Korea and "operational support" from American forces outside the peninsula. (Yonha

Aug. 20, 2018

Korea considers five sites for inter-Korean excavation of DMZ war remains

South Korea has been considering five candidate sites for an inter-Korean project to excavate the remains of fallen troops left in the Demilitarized Zone during the 1950-53 Korean War, a defense official here said Monday.The sites are Paju, Yeoncheon, Cheolwon, Yanggu and Goseong, where fierce battles occurred during the first major armed conflict of the Cold War. The South proposed some of the sites to the North during general-grade talks late last month."(At the military talks), the two sides

Aug. 20, 2018

Ex-US soldier convicted of sexually abusing two Korean orphan boys

A former US senior airman is serving a 15-year jail sentence for sexually molesting two South Korean male orphans and possessing dozens of child pornography videos, court records showed. Robert Keldgard, who was stationed at Kunsan Air Base, 270 kilometers south of Seoul, between 2012 and 2013, was convicted by a court-martial in April 2016, Col. John Bosone, the commander of the 8th Fighter Wing at the base,  confirmed the information last week in a response to questions from Yonhap News Agency

Aug. 20, 2018

Ministry to gradually remove half of all 'unnecessary' coastal, riverside barbed-wire fences

South Korea's defense ministry plans to gradually remove half of all "unnecessary" coastal and riverside barbed-wire fences across the country to help ease residents' inconveniences, officials said Thursday.The move, which is part of the Defense Reform 2.0 initiative aimed at creating a smaller yet stronger military, came amid Seoul's push for inter-Korean cooperation and rapprochement.The ministry plans to inspect all fences across the nation, which measure about 300 kilometers in total, to det

Aug. 16, 2018

Inter-Korean military communication line fully restored: defense ministry

South and North Korea fully restored their military communication line on the eastern part of the peninsula Wednesday, Seoul's defense ministry said, in a step to build confidence and reduce cross-border tensions.The complete restoration of fax and phone connections was part of an agreement from June's inter-Korean general-grade military talks, the first such meeting in more than a decade. (Yonhap)In July, the two sides also fully restored their military communication line on the western part of

Aug. 15, 2018

S. Korea seeks to repatriate war remains stored in Hawaii

South Korea is in discussion with the US about repatriating the remains of its soldiers killed during the Korean War, a Defense Ministry official said Wednesday, as the US has informed the government that the bodies are stored at a US government agency in Hawaii.The official said the Ministry of National Defense was recently notified by the US government that it has about 35 sets of war remains identified as that of South Korean soldiers. The Defense Ministry will send a forensic team to Hawaii

Aug. 15, 2018

Vice defense minister calls for Britain's support for peninsula peace efforts

South Korea's Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk called for Britain's support for Seoul's efforts to foster a lasting peace on the peninsula during his talks with a top British military official on Tuesday, Seoul's defense ministry said.Suh held talks with Gen. Christopher Deverell, the chief of the United Kingdom's Joint Forces Command, who came to Seoul on Sunday for a four-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral defense cooperation. (Yonhap)"(Suh) said that there need to be unified efforts

Aug. 14, 2018

Defense minister holds talks with top Indian military official

South Korea's Defense Minister Song Young-moo has held talks with his Indian counterpart, Nirmala Sitharaman, to discuss ways to expand bilateral ties and collaboration for North Korea's denuclearization, his office said Saturday.During the talks, which took place in India on Friday, they agreed to promptly hold the vice ministerial 2+2 dialogue involving the two countries' foreign and defense ministries, according to the Ministry of Defense. Song called for cooperation and support from the inte

Aug. 11, 2018

Defense minister briefed Moon on DSC reform plan: Cheong Wa Dae

 　The presidential office on Wednesday confirmed that President Moon Jae-in was briefed by Defense Minister Song Young-moo on the reform plan for the scandal-ridden military intelligence command during a closed-door meeting.　According to Cheong Wa Dae, Moon met with Song and senior presidential aides on Friday evening -- hours after the presidential office announced a plan to create a new military command to replace the Defense Security Command.　Following the announcement, the Defense Ministry s

Aug. 8, 2018

Ministry to harness cutting-edge technologies to enhance military logistics

Korea's defense ministry on Wednesday announced a plan to capitalize on big data, 3D printing, drones and other cutting-edge technologies to strengthen the military's logistical support capabilities.The plan is part of the Defense Reform 2.0 initiative aimed at creating a smaller yet smarter military capable of handling traditional and nontraditional security threats from inside and outside the peninsula.  (Yonhap)"So as to expand logistical support capabilities and efficiency, the defense minis

Aug. 8, 2018

Martial law investigation expands, former DSC brass grilled

Investigators looking into the military intelligence unit’s alleged wrongdoings are seeking an extension and more personnel for the probe, local media reported Tuesday. According to reports citing unnamed Ministry of National Defense sources, the team requested Defense Minister Song Young-moo approve a 30-day extension on Tuesday.  Defense Security Command in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. YonhapThe team of military and civilian prosecutors is looking into allegations the Defense Security Command

Aug. 7, 2018

Defense minister calls for Turkey’s support for Korea peace efforts

South Korea’s Defense Minister Song Young-moo called for Turkey’s support for Seoul’s efforts to achieve denuclearization and lasting peace on the peninsula, his ministry said Tuesday.On Monday, Song held talks with his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar in Ankara over a range of issues, including security on the peninsula and cooperation in the arms industry. He began a six-day trip Sunday, which will also take him to India later this week. Defense Minister Song Young-moo (L) shakes hands with his

Aug. 7, 2018

Preparatory team for new intel command launched

The defense ministry launched a team Monday to prepare for the creation of a new command to supplant the scandal-ridden defense intelligence unit, long dogged by allegations of political interference.The launch is in line with President Moon Jae-in's order last Friday to dissolve and reorganize the Defense Security Command  following revelations that it explored the possibility of imposing martial law to quash anti-government protests last year.Lt. Gen. Nam Young-sin, the newly appointed command

Aug. 6, 2018

Joint team to be launched this week for probe of last month's chopper crash

A joint team consisting of civilians and military and government officials will be launched this week to investigate last month's marine chopper crash that killed five troops, a marine official said Monday.The team will begin operation on Wednesday with some 40 members, including 10 civilian experts recommended by the bereaved families and others selected by several state agencies such as the police and the land, infrastructure and transport ministry. It will be led by Kwon Jae-sang, emeritus pr

Aug. 6, 2018

All DSC members will return to original units during disbandment process: official

All members of an embattled military intelligence unit will return to their original outfits during its disbandment process, a government official said Sunday, a move aimed at facilitating the complete overhaul of the command marred by allegations of political interference.In line with President Moon Jae-in’s order Friday, the military authorities will disband and reorganize the Defense Security Command that has recently been criticized for its alleged review of the martial law imposition last y

Aug. 5, 2018

Defense minister urges intelligence unit to step up efforts to gain public trust

South Korea's defense minister urged an embattled military intelligence unit Saturday to stay away from politics and give up a sense of privilege in order to regain trust from the public. Song Young-moo made the remarks during an inauguration ceremony for Lt. Gen. Nam Young-sin as the head of the Defense Security Command in the unit's headquarters, south of Seoul."I came to stand here with a heavier mind than ever," Song said. "I am seeing you with a sense of urgency that the DSC should be rebor

Aug. 5, 2018

Defense ministry strengthens whistleblower protection

The defense ministry has revised its disciplinary action ordinance to strengthen protection for whistleblowers that expose corruption cases in the military establishment, officials said Friday.Under the revision that took effect on Wednesday, any uniformed officer or public official in the military who attempts to track down a whistleblower will face heavy punishments, including dismissal and expulsion. (Yonhap)Those who issue a directive to hunt down an internal informant or get involved in any

Aug. 3, 2018