Navies of Korea, India hold joint drill in Indian Ocean

NEW DELHI -- The navies of South Korea and India held a joint drill in the Indian Ocean as a fleet of South Korean warships visited Mumbai, the South Korean Navy said Saturday. The drill, held Friday, involved a range of destroyers, military ships and other assets from the two nations, according to South Korean military officials.  (Yonhap)The warships taking part in the drill carried out anti-piracy, logistic sustainment and helicopter landing exercises. The South Korean warships were visiting

Oct. 8, 2017

THAAD radar in S. Korea has range of up to 1,000 km: USFK

The radar of an advanced US missile defense system deployed in South Korea can detect missile threats at a range of up to 1,000 kilometers, US Forces Korea (USFK) said Saturday.South Korea announced last month the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in the southeastern county of Seongju has been completed in a "tentative" step to counter threats from North Korea.US Forces Korea`s diagram about the workings of THAAD. YonhapX-band ground-based radar that comes with

Oct. 7, 2017

US aircraft carrier expected in Korea for joint exercise this month

The United States is expected to dispatch an aircraft carrier strike group including the USS Ronald Reagan this month for a joint exercise with the South Korean Navy, a defense official here said Sunday.“We are discussing the plan to dispatch the aircraft strike group, including the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, to the East Sea around Oct. 15,” the military official said on condition of anonymity. “The military group will carry out a high level joint exercise in the sea wit

Oct. 1, 2017

S. Korea, US conduct 1st joint short-range air defense exercise on Korean Peninsula

South Korea and the US forces have conducted their first joint short-range air defense drill amid growing threats from North Korea.The exercise involved South Korea's air defense unit and the soldiers from the US' 6th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, according to the US Pacific Command (USPACOM). It was held recently in Pocheon, north of Seoul, with no specific date given."The field exercise allowed the ROK and US troops to gain familiarity with each other's weapon systems and cap

Sept. 30, 2017

South Korea implements plan for early OPCON transfer: lawmaker

The South Korean government is seeking to take back wartime operational control of its armed forces from the United States within President Moon Jae-in’s five-year term, an opposition lawmaker said Friday. In order to complete the OPCON transfer, the Ministry of National Defense has come up with a “three-phase” road map and begun its implementation, said Rep. Kim Hack-yong of the Liberty Korea Party, citing data released by the Defense Ministry.  Rep. Kim Hack-yong of the Liberty Korea Party (Yo

Sept. 29, 2017

Korean president meets former POWs marking Armed Forces Day

South Korean President Moon Jae-in thanked former South Korean prisoners of war for their patriotism during an Armed Forces Day meeting earlier this week, the Ministry of National Defense said Friday.The ministry invited them to the 69th Armed Forces Day ceremony held at a local naval base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday.A total of 33 former POWs reside in South Korea, having returned from North Korea since 1994 after a decadeslong stay in North Korea, according to a government tal

Sept. 29, 2017

Opposition leader objects to early takeover of wartime troop control

The main opposition leader voiced his objection Friday to President Moon Jae-in's push to retake wartime operational control from the United States at an early date.Hong Joon-pyo, the leader of the conservative Liberty Korea Party, pointed out that South Korea's independent defense capabilities are not yet sufficient to counter North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats.During Thursday's ceremony to celebrate the Armed Forces Day, Moon reiterated his resolve for the early OPCON takeover,

Sept. 29, 2017

Moon says wartime operational control key to stronger military

President Moon Jae-in on Thursday called for stronger military capabilities to deter North Korean provocations, saying Seoul regaining wartime operational control from the US is essential for the goal. “My administration is pursuing the early takeover of wartime operational control. The handover on the basis of our independent defense capabilities will ultimately lead to a remarkable advancement in the fundamentals and abilities of our military,” Moon said at an Armed Forces Day event held at a

Sept. 28, 2017

Seoul showcases strategic weapons targeting NK

　South Korea’s military on Thursday unveiled a package of advanced missile systems capable of targeting North Korea, demonstrating its capability to defend against the regime’s persistent nuclear and missile threats. 　During Armed Forces Day held at the Navy’s 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, President Moon Jae-in conducted an inspection of troops and strategic weapons from the Army, Navy and Air Force. 　Among them were Hyunmoo-class surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, incl

Sept. 28, 2017

Gen. Brooks awarded Korea's state medal on Armed Forces Day

Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, the commander of US Forces Korea, received South Korea's top state medal from President Moon Jae-in on Thursday for his contribution to the alliance and the defense of the region amid growing North Korean threats.He is the first US military officer to be awarded the Tongil Medal of the Order, the highest national security merit, during the South's Armed Forces Day. Traditionally, the country's president bestowed the medal on USFK commanders when they finish their service

Sept. 28, 2017

Korea shows off key weapons in Armed Forces Day event

South Korea made public some of its major weapon systems Thursday, including new ballistic missiles, to celebrate Armed Forces Day in the face of North Korea's brinkmanship.President Moon Jae-in inspected the weapons and troops at the headquarters of the Navy's Second Fleet in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul.It was the first time for the country's official Armed Forces Day ceremony to be held at a naval base, as it is usually staged at the Gyeryongdae military complex in South Chungcheo

Sept. 28, 2017

Moon calls for increased deterrence against N. Korean nuclear provocations

South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday vowed to build up the country's own defense capabilities as part of efforts to rid North Korea of its nuclear weapons, also saying his country will counter any North Korean provocation with "strong punishment.""Our government's determination to protect peace requires strong defense capabilities. And we will stand up against reckless provocations with strong punishment," the president said in a ceremony marking the Korean Armed Forces Day, which fall

Sept. 28, 2017

Defense ministry launches special probe into Army soldier death

South Korea's Defense Minister Song Young-moo on Thursday ordered a special investigation into the recent death of an Army soldier hit by presumably a stray bullet near a local firing range.The 22-year-old man with the rank of private first class was hit by a bullet in his head while walking back to his base in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, at around 4:10 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Army. An Army firing range in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province. (Yonhap)He was taken to a hospital but died at 5:22 p.m

Sept. 28, 2017

S. Korea, US open alliance talks

South Korea and the United States began working-level defense talks in Seoul on Wednesday on North Korea and pending alliance issues.The two-day Korea-US Integrated Defense Dialogue meeting, the 12th of its kind, got under way amid sharp military tensions on the peninsula over North Korea's provocations.Agenda items include policy coordination against the North's nuclear and missile programs, Washington's commitment to extended deterrence and the transfer of wartime operational control of South

Sept. 27, 2017

USFK focusing on fight readiness, not swayed by N. Korea’s rhetoric: official

American troops in South Korea won't be distracted by the war of words between Pyongyang and Washington, focusing on maintaining combat readiness, a US defense official said Wednesday."All of the talk by civilian political leaders does not change our mission... to provide the ROK (South Korea)-US alliance with solid military capability in case we are called upon," the US Forces Korea official said.Military tensions here have escalated amid North Korea's threats and provocative acts and a tough U

Sept. 27, 2017

Opposition leader to visit US to call for redeployment of tactical nukes

The leader of the main opposition party will visit the United States next month to highlight the need for the redeployment of US tactical nukes to the Korean Peninsula to counter growing threats from North Korea, party officials said Wednesday.Hong Joon-pyo, the chief of the conservative Liberty Korea Party, will embark on a five-day visit on Oct. 23, during which he will have talks with US diplomatic and security officials, and scholars over the nuclear standoff.His delegation includes Vice Nat

Sept. 27, 2017

Korea succeeds in counter-missile system test

South Korea has successfully tested a counter-missile system for use by military aircraft carrying special forces deep into enemy territory, officials here said Wednesday.The trial of the indigenous directional infrared countermeasures system was conducted in July at the Anheung test site of the state-run Agency for Defense Development."There was a successful outcome (to the testing)," a military official said on customary condition of anonymity prior to a formal announcement by the relevant aut

Sept. 27, 2017

US Navy's mine-clearing ship in Jeju port

A mine countermeasures ship in the US Navy made a port call at a southern port of South Korea on Tuesday, the allies' navies said.The USS Chief (MCM-14), an Avenger-class vessel, pulled into the Jeju Naval Base as part of a routine port visit, US Naval Forces Korea said."Chief is part of Mine Countermeasures Squadron 7 and Amphibious Force 7th Fleet, which is training to enhance its capabilities of finding, classifying and destroying moored and bottom mines," it said.The ship was greeted by Capt

Sept. 26, 2017

Korea reshuffles senior military commanders

South Korea replaced its number two military officer on Tuesday in a shake-up that also promoted 10 two-star Army generals to the rank of lieutenant general.Lt. Gen. Lee Jong-sup, the commanding general of the 7th Army Corps, was tapped as the deputy chairman of the JCS, according to the Ministry of National Defense.Lt. Gen. Koo Hong-moo, who leads the Capital Defense Command, was named the deputy Army chief of staff.Lt. Gen. Kim Jung-soo, commander of the Army's 27th Division, will succeed Koo,

Sept. 26, 2017

Air dominance crucial in countering N. Korean threats: US commander

A top US military commander in South Korea on Tuesday stressed the significance of enhancing the integrated air power of the allies against North Korea armed with nuclear weapons.Lt. Gen. Thomas Bergeson, the 7th Air Force commander, said the emergency of the North's nuclear threat has made the value of the "seamless control of airspace" even more important.He pointed out air power's precise targeting, flexibility, speed and range were proven in past conflicts, including the Gulf War. Lt. Gen. T

Sept. 26, 2017