Possibility of conflict on Korean Peninsula rises from 'very low levels': Moody's

The possibility of any outright military conflicts on the Korean Peninsula remains low, but it has risen from "very low levels" after North Korea's latest nuclear test, global credit appraiser Moody's Investors Services said Thursday. Defying international warnings, North Korea conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test Sunday, claiming it was a hydrogen bomb that can be loaded onto a long-range missile. South Korea, the US and Japan are reportedly seeking tougher UN sanctions against No

Sept. 7, 2017

[Newsmaker] THAAD system deployment completed: S. Korea

South Korea's defense ministry announced Thursday the deployment of a THAAD missile defense system has been completed in a "tentative" step to counter urgent threats from North Korea.The announcement came soon after the US Forces Korea (USFK) transported four additional THAAD rocket launchers into its new base in Seongju, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, despite fierce protests by local residents and activists. Thousands of police were mobilized to help clear the way for a convoy of USFK vehi

Sept. 7, 2017

THAAD launchers enter US base amid protests

Four more interceptor launchers for a US missile defense system entered a southern military base Thursday after clashes between police and protesters that resulted in dozens of injuries.The arrival of the launchers and other equipment came some 14 months after Seoul and Washington decided to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to Seongju, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, to counter escalating North Korean threats. THAAD launchers enter US base (Yonhap)Clashes occurre

Sept. 7, 2017

Uneasiness grows in Seoul over Trump’s remark over arms sales

After US President Donald Trump’s recent tweets about his approval of selling military equipment to South Korea, a sense of uneasiness is growing here over what some see as the US leader’s attempts to use the ongoing security crisis as an opportunity to sell weapons. In a tweet posted Tuesday, Trump said he has allowed South Korea and Japan to purchase “a substantially increased amount” of sophisticated US military equipment to counter North Korea’s escalating nuclear and missile threats.  US Pr

Sept. 6, 2017

Ministry: More THAAD launchers to be deployed Thursday

Four more THAAD rocket launchers will be installed this week at the US missile defense base in South Korea, the Ministry of National Defense announced Wednesday.It said the US Forces Korea will position the launchers at its new base in Seongju, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, on Thursday.The move comes after North Korea's recent string of ballistic missile and nuclear tests.The ministry stressed the urgency of mobilizing the assets, now stored at a nearby USFK compound, amid growing threats

Sept. 6, 2017

Seongju tense as THAAD equipment on the move

South Korea’s rural town of Seongju was tense Wednesday evening, as activists and protestors converged and villagers built up a barricade with tractors and vehicles to block the imminent arrival of the equipment of a controversial US missile defense system.  　Seoul’s Defense Ministry announced Wednesday afternoon that four launchers of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system would be moved to a US military site in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, early Thursday morning. 　“As a result o

Sept. 6, 2017

Additional THAAD launchers to be deployed Thursday: villagers

The US military will deploy additional missile interceptor launchers to its base in a southern town early Thursday despite strong opposition from residents and activists, according to local villagers. The residents' group in Seongju said Wednesday they have confirmed the information through various channels about the planned deployment of four launchers of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system at 2 a.m. on Thursday, in addition to two that are already installed."We think the authorities

Sept. 6, 2017

Ex-lawmakers demand redeployment of US tactical nukes

A group of former lawmakers Wednesday joined a growing chorus of calls for the Moon Jae-in government to seek the redeployment of US tactical nuclear arms to counter North Korea's escalating threats.The Parliamentarians' Society of the Republic of Korea made the demand, stressing that Pyongyang's repeated nuclear tests have reaffirmed that dialogue is not an effective method to address the decades-old nuclear standoff.Since the North's sixth and most powerful nuclear test to date Sunday, calls h

Sept. 6, 2017

US vows full extended deterrence for Korea, Japan

The United States assured South Korea and Japan on Wednesday of full extended deterrence, based on both its conventional and nuclear arsenal, against North Korea.The US reaffirmed its "ironclad" security commitment for the key regional allies in a working-level video conference on the North's latest nuclear test, according to South Korea's defense ministry."In particular, the US stressed that its extended deterrence commitment will be guaranteed through all categories of military capabilities in

Sept. 6, 2017

Seoul, Washington defense chiefs agree to strengthen deployment of US strategic assets

Defense chiefs of Seoul and Washington agreed on Tuesday to strengthen the regular deployment of US strategic military assets in response to North Korea's latest nuclear test.The South Korean defense ministry said Defense Minister Song Young-moo and US Defense Secretary James Mattis reached the agreement during their phone conversation Tuesday evening."The two defense chiefs agreed to strengthen the regular deployment of US strategic assets and joint military exercises on and around the Korean P

Sept. 6, 2017

Seoul Defense Dialogue opens amid growing N. Korea risks

Defense policymakers and security experts from around the world gathered in Seoul on Wednesday for an annual forum, hosted by South Korea's defense ministry, amid growing concerns about North Korea's brinkmanship.The sixth Seoul Defense Dialogue brings together more than 500 participants from 38 countries, including dozens of vice ministerial officials.With the theme "Visions for Security Cooperation in an Age of Uncertainty," this year's SDD comes days after the North pressed ahead with a nucle

Sept. 6, 2017

Seoul seeks to develop ‘Frankenmissile’ targeting North Korea: sources

Faced with North Korea’s escalating nuclear and missile threats, South Korea is seeking to develop a ballistic missile capable of carrying warheads powerful enough to destroy the communist regime’s underground military facilities and wartime commands.　According to military sources familiar with the matter Tuesday, the government is considering a plan to build a new ground-to-ground ballistic missile that can reach the entire North Korea and load up to 2 tons of warheads. 　The measure was reveale

Sept. 5, 2017

Opposition ups pressure on govt. to seek redeployment of US tactical nukes

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party on Tuesday turned up pressure on the government to seek the redeployment of US tactical nuclear arms to counter escalating North Korean nuclear threats.During a general meeting with party lawmakers, LKP chief Hong Joon-pyo stressed that the conservative party has adopted the redeployment as its official line, which will also test the US' "will" to employ its nuclear umbrella in defense of its Asian ally.After the North conducted two tests of an intercontin

Sept. 5, 2017

Seoul notes possible purchase of US weapons but denies any immediate plan

South Korea on Tuesday acknowledged the possibility of a need to purchase advanced US weapons systems in the future as part of efforts to enhance its deterrence against North Korean provocations but dismissed any immediate plan to spend "many billions of dollars" as suggested by Washington.In a short statement released after a telephone conversation between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and his US counterpart Donald Trump late Monday, the White House said the US president has provided "his

Sept. 5, 2017

Korean defense firms to showcase signature weapons at Polish expo

About a dozen South Korean defense manufacturers will promote their signature products at an international defense exhibition that kicked off Tuesday in Poland, Seoul officials said.The 25th International Defense Industry Exhibition MSPO will run till Friday in the central Polish city of Kielce, bringing together 650 defense companies from 35 countries across the globe.South Korea has been designated as the expo's lead nation in charge of making an opening speech and hosting of a joint seminar,

Sept. 5, 2017

Korea, ASEAN vice defense ministers to discuss cooperation

Senior defense ministry officials of South Korea and other Southeast Asian countries will gather in Seoul this week to discuss cooperation on regional security amid stepped-up tensions following North Korea's recent nuclear test. South Korea's Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk will hold a meeting Wednesday with his counterparts from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, according to the ministry. South Korea`s Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk. (Yonhap)They are expected to disc

Sept. 5, 2017

US to send more strategic assets to Korea: Pacific Fleet chief

A top US naval commander said Tuesday his country will keep sending formidable defense assets to the Korean Peninsula in combined deterrence and response to North Korea's "self-destructive" actions.Adm. Scott Swift, who commands the US Pacific Fleet, stressed that although South Koreans stand closest to the North's threats, they "do not face this aggressor alone."He cited the North's continued provocations, including "ill-advised" ballistic missile launches and inflammatory warnings of nuclear w

Sept. 5, 2017

[News Analysis] North may have succeeded in miniaturizing nuke warheads for ICBMs: defense chief

With Sunday’s nuclear test, North Korea might have succeeded in making nuclear warheads small enough to be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile, South Korea’s defense chief said Monday. 　In a parliamentary inquiry a day after the North conducted its sixth and largest nuclear test at Punggye-ri site, Defense Minister Song Young-moo told lawmakers that the military suspects the North may have secured technology to produce miniaturized nuclear warheads that weigh less than 500 kilograms

Sept. 4, 2017

US naval ship conducted undersea survey off Jeju base: local official

A local official on Jeju Island said Monday that a US naval ship carried out an underwater survey off the South Korean military base there last month, raising suspicions that it may be part of preparation for the deployment of US strategic assets. "The US Navy vessel Henson was spotted conducting an extensive survey of the sea off the base late into the night from Aug. 17-29," the official at the community center of Gangjeong Village, home to the base, said. The oceanographic survey ship went fa

Sept. 4, 2017

Ministry: Four more THAAD launchers all set for deployment

South Korea's defense ministry announced Monday that the US Forces Korea will soon install four more THAAD missile defense launchers at its new southern base.The announcement came as the environment ministry accepted the results of an environmental impact survey of the THAAD system partially operational at the former golf course in Seongju, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul. Two THAAD rocket launchers are in operation there, with four others waiting for deployment. A US military chopper deliver

Sept. 4, 2017