Mattis: US could 'fight tonight' if S. Korea attacked

WASHINGTON -- US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Thursday has reaffirmed his country's commitment to the defense of South Korea, saying his troops could "fight tonight" if the Asian ally were to come under attack.Mattis was speaking to reporters en route from Vietnam to Hawaii near the end of a regional trip that also took him to Indonesia."The defense of South Korea is a treaty alliance with us," he said, according to an official transcript. He explained that the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an

Jan. 26, 2018

Can allies’ defense chiefs find ways to capitalize on Olympic Detente?

　Expectations are growing over the upcoming meeting between the defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States, with the allies seeking to use an Olympic detente to foster a thaw in inter-Korean relations and North Korea’s denuclearization. 　But the challenge looms large, as a standoff appears to persist between Washington and Pyongyang. While the North is preparing for a military parade a day before the opening of the PyeongChang Olympics on Feb. 9, reports have emerged that US strategic b

Jan. 25, 2018

Korea, US defense chiefs to meet in Hawaii Friday

WASHINGTON -- The defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States will meet in Hawaii Friday to discuss issues related to the bilateral alliance, including North Korea.Speaking to reporters Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he will meet with South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo on his way home from his current trip to Asia."Just because we have an opportunity out here to link up in the field, makes it easier for both of us -- on the travel side," he said en route from I

Jan. 25, 2018

Opposition lawmaker calls for suspension of troop reduction plan

The chairman of the parliamentary defense committee on Monday called for the suspension of the government's plan to curtail its forces and shorten mandatory service terms for conscripts.Rep. Kim Hack-yong of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party stressed that troop strength is still crucial given that North Korea's 1.28-million-strong military far outnumbers South Korea's 625,000-strong military.Last week, the defense ministry reaffirmed its plan to reduce the number of troops to half a millio

Jan. 22, 2018

[Video] Footage shows Canadian soldiers during Korean War

On Friday afternoon, young Korean college players and Canadian soldiers faced off for a friendly game of ice hockey, a commemorative event to honor the Canadian veterans who had fought in the Korean War (1950-53), and to mark the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games opening next month.While the annual Imjin Classic Hockey Games have been held every year, this time, the match was being hosted at the very site where over 60 years ago, the Canadian soldiers played in a brief escape from the brutalities

Jan. 19, 2018

Govt. to mobilize Air Force planes, Coast Guard vessels to safeguard Olympics from terrorism

Korea will take a series of measures to safeguard the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics from terrorism, with Air Force planes patrolling around the venues and Coast Guard vessels and commandos standing guard off shore, the government said Friday.The government announced these measures after a meeting of the national anti-terrorism committee presided over by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, as Korea is making last-minute checks on preparations for the Feb. 9-25 games.Under these measures, police wi

Jan. 19, 2018

Korea to streamline OPCON transition procedures

South Korea said Friday that it will push for an agreement with the US in May on their envisioned combined command in preparation for the wartime operational control transition.The move is part of the defense ministry's roadmap on procedures necessary to regain its OPCON from the US as early as possible.The allies have agreed to seek a "conditions-based" transition tied to South Korea's own defense capability and the development of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction.The liberal Moon Jae-i

Jan. 19, 2018

Navy to get new submarine

South Korea's Navy will receive a new diesel-electric air-independent propulsion submarine Friday capable of staying underwater more than 10 days, the state arms agency said.The Defense Acquisition Program Administration plans to deliver the Hong Beom Do submarine to the Navy in a ceremony at the shipyard of Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan.Named after a respected independent fighter during Japan's colonial rule in the early 1900s, it's the seventh of South Korea's 214-type Son Won Il-class sub

Jan. 19, 2018

US confirms plans for strategic assets deployment

 　South Korea and the United States have agreed to continue US deployment of strategic assets to and around the Korean Peninsula, Seoul’s government said Thursday, in a bid to maintain military pressure on North Korea despite signs of an Olympic detente between the two Koreas. 　During Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group meetings held Wednesday in Washington, the US reaffirmed its commitment to provide extended deterrence for South Korea using a full range of its military capabili

Jan. 18, 2018

Former President Lee “directly involved” in signing secret military pacts with UAE: lawmaker

Former President Lee Myung-bak was involved in signing secret military pacts with the United Arab Emirates, a progressive opposition lawmaker said Wednesday, adding fuel to political controversy surrounding the former president. Rep. Kim Jong-dae of the minor Justice Party claimed that Lee was involved in bringing about the military pact that includes dispatching South Korean troops to the UAE. The agreement was tantamount to a mutual defense treaty, requiring Korea to send its troops to the UAE

Jan. 17, 2018

Two Koreas set for military talks, but challenges remain

With the two Koreas gearing up for military talks to ease tensions, the focus is now on how much progress they will be able to make, as the US continues to raise concerns over North Korea’s motive behind its diplomatic overture.  　In a joint statement released Tuesday, the two Koreas agreed to hold military talks and additional high-level meetings, with Pyongyang agreeing to send its delegates and athletes to the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.   　Prospects of the military talks, however, rema

Jan. 10, 2018

Korea's Marine Corps gets first multirole choppers

South Korea's Marine Corps received the first two multirole helicopters from the country's arms agency Wednesday, moving a step toward its aim of creating an independent aviation unit.The MUH-1s, the Marine version of the KUH-1 Surion developed by Korea Aerospace Industries, represent the first major aircraft possessed by the 28,800-strong troops since they were integrated into the Navy in 1973.The Marine Corps has since relied on the assets of the Navy, the Army and the Air Force to transport i

Jan. 10, 2018

South Korea, UAE vow to bolster ties amid controversy over secret military pacts

Amid escalating controversy over secret military pacts between South Korea and the UAE that allegedly commit Korean troops to the Middle Eastern country in a contingency, the two countries Tuesday pledged to bolster bilateral ties, elevating their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.　“I hope our relationship will become something between brothers,” said President Moon Jae-in during a meeting with Khaldoon Khalifa al-Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dh

Jan. 9, 2018

Govt. opens task force meeting on defense industry reform

South Korea's defense authorities had an inaugural meeting Tuesday on resetting the arms acquisition sector, which has been dogged by corruption scandals and public criticism over its incompetence, in line with President Moon Jae-in's far-reaching reform drive.Co-chaired by Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk and Jeon Jei-guk, minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the session included 40 senior interagency officials. Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk (L) and DAPA Minister J

Jan. 9, 2018

USS Carl Vinson on its way to Western Pacific

USS Carl Vinson, an aircraft carrier of the US Navy, is en route to the Western Pacific, the Navy announced Sunday.The nuclear-powered supercarrier, accompanied by several guided-missile destroyers and other warships, left its homeport in San Diego last week for the "regularly scheduled deployment" to the region, it said without revealing the scheduled arrival date and mission period.The transition comes as part of the Third Fleet Forward initiative to enable the unit to support the operations o

Jan. 7, 2018

Diplomatic efforts on N. Korea backed by military option: Tillerson

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Friday that military action remains an option should diplomatic efforts fail to end North Korea's nuclear weapons program.In an interview with CNN, the top US diplomat was commenting on President Donald Trump's recent tweet, in which he boasted about having a "nuclear button" that is "much bigger and more powerful" than the one allegedly sitting on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's desk."I think the rhetoric that North Korea understands is that while it i

Jan. 6, 2018

S. Korea, US affirm strong alliance amid inter-Korean dialogue mood

The defense chiefs of South Korea and the US agreed Friday to continue close cooperation for a nuclear-free peninsula in the face of North Korea's recent peace gesture.In phone talks with Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, South Korea's Defense Minister Song Young-moo emphasized his government's firm stance on resolving the North Korean nuclear issue through a "phased, comprehensive" approach in tandem with sanctions and dialogue, according to his ministry.A strong alliance with Washington is the

Jan. 6, 2018

Ministry: Allies discuss combined command relocation

South Korea's defense ministry confirmed Thursday that it is in consultations with the U.S. military to move the allies' Combined Forces Command (CFC) out of the Yongsan Garrison in central Seoul. YonhapThe two sides are talking about relocating the CFC headquarters to the Ministry of National Defense compound not far away from the Yongsan base, according to the ministry.It would be a reversal of a tentative agreement between the allies in 2014 to let the CFC maintain some of its facilities and

Jan. 4, 2018

Korea opposed to 'freeze for freeze' option on N. Korean nukes: foreign ministry

South Korea does not support the option of a so-called "freeze-for-freeze" that requires North Korea to stop its military weapons tests in return for the suspension of annual South Korean-US joint military exercises, a foreign ministry spokesman said Thursday. "Our government does not agree with the [freeze-for-freeze] stance," foreign ministry spokesman Noh Kyu-duk said when asked what stance Seoul would take if the issue were raised at future inter-Korean talks."Currently, military authorities

Jan. 4, 2018

Outgoing US commander awarded medal for service in Korea

The South Korean government on Thursday awarded Lt. Gen. Thomas S. Vandal, the outgoing commander of the US Eighth Army, a medal of merit for his contribution to the alliance.Defense Minister Song Young-moo gave Vandal the Gukseon Medal, the second-highest class in the Order of National Security Merit, on behalf of the government, according to the defense ministry.The order is conferred on those who have rendered distinguished service to national security.Thomas S. Vandal(Yonhap)Gen. Jeong Kyeon

Jan. 4, 2018