When former Navy chief Song Young-moo was nominated as the first minister of defense for the Moon Jae-in administration last week, hopes were high that the retired admiral will bring sweeping reforms. In his first meeting with reporters after being nominated, Song laid out his vision with confidence. Describing the current security challenges as being paradigm-shifting, he pledged to “rebuild” the military by eradicating dubious military contracts.But the path for Song’s appointment is likely to

June 22, 2017

South Korea said Thursday it has completed a yearslong project to acquire the depot maintenance capability for the nation's advanced FA-50 light combat fighter jet.It will enable the military to save around 450 billion won ($390 million) in costs for the operation and maintenance of the fleet over the next 30 years, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. A FA-50 light combat jet conducts a bombing exercise in this photo provided by the Defense Acquisition Program Administra

June 22, 2017

South Korea on Thursday repatriated the remains of an apparent American soldier killed in the Korean War, a show of the allies' commitment to never forget the wartime sacrifice of their troops.The remains were discovered in Yeongdong, a small village in North Chungcheong Province, at the end of March.Based on an initial analysis, the Ministry of Defense Agency for KIA Recovery & ID identified the remains belonging to a US service member. The area was a fierce battlefield in the early month of th

June 22, 2017

South Korea's new administration has no plans to scale back the number of joint exercises between its military and US troops stationed here or downsize their scope, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in a recent interview with US broadcaster CBS aired Wednesday (Seoul time)."During my campaign, I never mentioned the downsizing or adjusting of the Korea-US combined military exercises," the president said.Moon's remarks came after his special security adviser Moon Chung-in insisted Seoul and

June 21, 2017

UIJEONGBU -- A top US military commander in South Korea said he can't overemphasize the need for more combined exercises between the two countries, citing the seriousness of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction threats."I am never satisfied. I want to do more training." said Maj. Gen. Theodore D. Martin, the commanding general of the 2nd Infantry Division. "I want all training to be combined just like we got a saying, 'Train like you fight.' We want to get to very high-level live-fire exerc

June 20, 2017

Two US long-range strategic bombers will train with South Korea's fighter jets over the peninsula later Tuesday as part of a regular combined exercise, defense officials said."Our Air Force plans to hold a joint drill with two B-1Bs in the sky of the Korean Peninsula today," Lt. Col. Kim Sung-duk, a public relations officer of the South Korean Air Force, told reporters.The B-1B Lancers are scheduled to fly over Korea for a few hours along with two F-15K fighter jets, he added.(Yonhap)He pointed

June 20, 2017

South Korea said Monday it will hold a combined live-fire naval exercise with the United States and Canada this week in its southern waters.Hosted by South Korea's Maritime Task Flotilla Seven, the three-day training exercise will be staged in waters near Jeju Island from Friday, according to the Navy. (Yonhap)It will involve five South Korean warships, including the Aegis cruiser DDG-992 Yulgok Yii, P-3C Orion maritime surveillance aircraft and Lynx multi-role planes as well as the USS Dewey (D

June 19, 2017

WASHINGTON -- US concerns about President Moon Jae-in's policy could worsen after one of his special advisers suggested a willingness to consider scaling back joint military exercises with the US if North Korea freezes its nuclear and missile programs, experts said Sunday.Moon Chung-in, a Yonsei University professor serving as special presidential adviser for foreign and security affairs, made the remark during a Wilson Center seminar in Washington on Friday, saying President Moon has proposed t

June 19, 2017

WASHINGTON -- South Korea may consult with the United States about scaling back joint military exercises, such as downsizing the deployment of American strategic assets, if North Korea suspends nuclear and missile activities, an adviser to President Moon Jae-in said Friday.Moon Chung-in, a foreign affairs scholar and special presidential adviser, made the remark during a Wilson Center seminar in Washington, saying President Moon has proposed the idea as part of an incremental solution to the nuc

June 18, 2017

South Korea's defense ministry will soon launch a task force to craft a draft military reform plan in line with President Moon Jae-in's campaign pledges, officials said Sunday.Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk will lead the group to be created later this month. President Moon Jae-in speaks during a visit to the defense ministry on May 17, 2017. (Yonhap)It plans to draw up a report on defense reform measures and report it to a related special committee expected to be established under the presid

June 18, 2017

South Korea will soon begin the mass-production of its new mid-range hit-to-kill missile interceptor, code-named M-SAM, as it has passed an operational capability test, a defense official said Saturday.The M-SAM surface-to-air missile will serve as a core element of the country's Korea Air and Missile Defense System, currently in the making, against North Korea's threats. A file photo of a test of the Cheongung anti-aircraft missile in 2015. (Yonhap)"The prototype of the M-SAM (missile) to inter

June 17, 2017

South Korea's Navy said Thursday that it has kicked off an exercise on defending the country's easternmost islets of Dokdo, rebutting Japan's routine protest.The two-day training is part of efforts to defend Dokdo from the possible aggression of "outside forces," the Navy announced.It was apparently referring to Japan, which claims sovereignty over the Seoul-controlled islets in the East Sea.(Yonhap)This week's drill involves the 3,200-ton Gwanggaeto the Great-class destroyer and six other ships

June 15, 2017

South Korea's Defense Minister Han Min-koo on Wednesday called a recent drone infiltration, presumably by North Korea, a "grave" violation of the armistice agreement, saying his ministry will lodge a complaint through the Seoul-based UN Command."That a North Korean vehicle crossed the military demarcation line and flew into South Korean territory is a grave violation of the armistice agreement," Han told a parliamentary session. The accord halted the 1950-53 Korean War, but has left the two Kore

June 14, 2017

Thomas Shannon, US undersecretary of state for political affairs, plans to pay tribute to a South Korean soldier killed in Afghanistan, an informed source said Wednesday.Shannon is visiting here for meetings with South Korean officials mainly to discuss agenda items for the summit talks between the presidents of the two countries to be held later this month. Thomas Shannon, US undersecretary of state for political affairs (Yonhap)"He is scheduled to pay tribute to Army Sgt. Yoon Jang-ho in a vis

June 14, 2017

Maj. Gen. Yin Sung-hwan, the commander of the South Korean Army's 56th Infantry Division, was conferred the US Legion of Merit on Wednesday in recognition of his contribution to the combat capability of the allies.He is known for his expertise on the alliance and tireless efforts to help bolster it, having served as the deputy chief of the South Korea-US Combined Division for about a year from 2015. North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test and test-launched a long-range missile during that

June 14, 2017

The defense ministers of South Korea and India will hold talks in Seoul later Wednesday on ways to deal with North Korea and expand bilateral military cooperation, Seoul's ministry said.It is the first meeting between the defense chiefs of the two countries in two years. Defense Minister Han Min-koo speaks during a parliamentary session at the National Assembly in Seoul. (Yonhap)During the meeting with his Indian counterpart Arun Jaitley, Defense Minister Han Min-koo will explain the security co

June 14, 2017