Korea turns to Israeli contractor for KF-X jet radar: source

South Korea has formally decided to receive some technology support from Israel for the development of an advanced radar system in its KF-X fighter jet program, Seoul's arms procurement agency said Tuesday.The state-run Agency for Defense Development signed a contract with an Israeli defense firm on testing an active electronically scanned array radar being developed by a South Korean company, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration."It's about technology support related to t

May 23, 2017

S. Korean, US, Japanese military chiefs discuss N. Korea

The top military officers of South Korea, the United States and Japan agreed Tuesday to promote "substantive" trilateral defense cooperation against North Korea's provocations, defense authorities here said.Army Gen. Lee Sun-jin, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, had a video conference with his American and Japanese counterparts -- Gen. Joseph F. Dunford and Adm. Katsutoshi Kawano, according to Lee's office. Army Gen. Lee Sun-jin, chairman of South Korea`s Joint Chiefs of Staff, holds a vid

May 23, 2017

NK says its leader OKs deployment of new missile for action

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has approved the deployment of a new intermediate-range ballistic missile for combat use as the country succeeded in test-firing it, Pyongyang's state media said Monday.North Korea's leader observed the launch of the ground-to-ground Pukguksong-2 missile, expressing satisfaction with its accuracy in hitting targets, according to the Korean Central News Agency. A set of photos carried by North Korea`s main newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun, on May 22, 2017, shows the te

May 22, 2017

Military to gradually raise soldiers' salaries from next year: sources

The military will increase monthly wages for soldiers in steps from next year onwards to fulfill a campaign pledge by newly elected President Moon Jae-in, sources well informed on the matter said Sunday. "We have set up a plan to raise soldiers' monthly pay and are currently discussing the matter with the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and other relevant offices," one of the sources said. (Yonhap)Currently, the monthly salary for soldiers is 216,000 won ($192) for a sergeant, 195,000 won for a

May 21, 2017

Allies' navy forces launch combined maritime operations center in Jan.

The navies of South Korea and the US have been running a combined maritime operations center since early this year to better counter North Korea's missile threats, officials said Sunday.In January, South Korea's Navy and US Naval Forces Korea launched the operations center in the South Korean Navy's operational base in the country's largest port city of Busan, the South's navy officials said. This photo carried by North Korea's state news agency on Aug. 25, 2016, shows a submarine-launched balli

May 21, 2017

Two US aircraft carriers set for drills in East Sea: source

The US Navy confirmed Friday that two of its aircraft carriers are operating in the Western Pacific region amid unrelenting tensions on the Korean Peninsula over the North's provocation.The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and its Carrier Air Wing Five, featuring fighter jets and early warning aircraft, began its spring patrol earlier this week, according to the Pacific Fleet.They are currently focused on "flight deck and carrier qualifications," as the flattop, which has its homeport in Japan, resume

May 19, 2017

McMaster says he understands procedural problem in Korea with THAAD deployment decision

WASHINGTON -- US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster told South Korea's presidential envoy that he is aware that there is a procedural problem in South Korea with the decision to host the US THAAD missile defense system, the envoy said.McMaster made the remark when special envoy Hong Seok-hyun told him that there is a controversy over South Korea's procedure leading to the decision to host THAAD and there is a need to discuss the issue in the National Assembly, the envoy told reporters. US N

May 18, 2017

Female military official named veterans affairs chief

A female lieutenant colonel on Wednesday was tapped as veterans affairs minister, marking the first case of a female official at the post, according to Cheong Wa Dae.“President Moon Jae-in appointed Pee Woo-jin as minister of patriots and veterans affairs,” Cho Hyun-ock, senior presidential secretary for personnel affairs, said in a briefing. Pee Woo-jin (Yonhap)Pee joined the military in 1979 and has since then served in physically challenging posts such as special forces commander and helicopt

May 17, 2017

Three Saudi cadets to get training in Korean military academies

Three military cadets from Saudi Arabia will start receiving training in South Korea's military academies next year following an agreement on military education signed between the two countries' defense ministries Wednesday.The Ministry of National Defense here said that the agreement on the military education exchange and cooperation was signed between the two parties in Seoul earlier in the day. Korea Military Academy cadets (Yonhap)The latest agreement is part of the two countries' broader pa

May 17, 2017

THAAD radar detected N. Korea's missile launch: defense chief

The radar of an advanced US missile defense system in South Korea detected the launch of a North Korean ballistic missile two days ago, South Korea's defense minister told lawmakers on Tuesday. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, which became operational earlier this month in South Korea, aims to destroy short- and medium-range ballistic missiles amid growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. North Korea test-launched what appears to be a long-range ballistic missile on S

May 16, 2017

Han warns of pre-emptive strike in case of imminent NK missile attack

South Korea's Defense Minister Han Min-koo warned Tuesday that his country will launch a pre-emptive strike if there are clear signs of an imminent North Korean missile attack.His remarks came two days after the communist state fired another ballistic missile, which it claimed was a mid- to long-range missile capable of carrying a "large-size, heavy" nuclear warhead and targeting the continental United States. Defense Minister Han Min-koo speaks during a parliamentary session at the National Ass

May 16, 2017

USS Carl Vinson in open-ended mission near Korea: official

A high-profile US naval strike group, led by the USS Carl Vinson, is staying near the Korean Peninsula on an open-ended mission, a defense official here said Tuesday.The San Diego-based aircraft carrier arrived in Korean waters late last month as a show of force against North Korea.The USS Carl Vinson, a US aircraft carrier, stages a joint exercise with South Korean warships. (Navy)It is apparently supposed to be replaced by the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier, which has its homeport in Japan

May 16, 2017

Korean military on alert against ransomware

South Korea's defense authorities have raised the cybersecurity alert level by one notch amid reports of fast-spreading ransomware that may be linked to North Korea, an official said Tuesday.Many networks worldwide have been disrupted by the "WannaCry" malware. Some security researchers say the North may be behind the cyber assault. (Yonhap-ESTsecurity)The Joint Chiefs of Staff has already elevated the stage of "INFOCON," an information-related defense alert system, to Level 3 from Level 4, the

May 16, 2017

THAAD in S. Korea capable of intercepting N. Korean missiles: Pentagon

WASHINGTON -- The US THAAD missile defense battery recently installed in South Korea is now capable of intercepting North Korean missiles, a Pentagon spokesman said Monday, amid heightened tensions in the wake of Pyongyang's latest missile test."This system has the ability to defeat North Korean missiles and clearly ... North Korean missiles are a threat to the region and very destabilizing," Capt. Jeff Davis said during a briefing at the Foreign Press Center. (Yonhap)"We recently completed the

May 16, 2017

[Graphic News] Changes of conscription term

The Defense Ministry has embarked on its review on the military reform plan from President Moon Jae-in, who pledged during the election campaign to shorten the period of conscription from the current 21 months to 18 months.After peaking at 36 months during the Park Chung-hee regime, the military service term -- based on the army -- has continued to reduce over the past few decades. It was 26 months between 1993 and 2003 and 24 months between 2003 and 2010.

May 14, 2017

Military prepares for defense reform measures

South Korea's defense ministry said Friday it has started working-level preparations for the implementation of reform measures proposed by President Moon Jae-in during his campaign."With regard to the presidential campaign pledges on the defense sector, of course, we are reviewing conditions and ways for implementation," Moon Sang-gyun, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, told reporters. (Yonhap)Moon's promises include shortening the service period for conscripted soldiers to 18 mo

May 12, 2017

Trump severely berates McMaster over THAAD deployment in Korea: report

WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump severely berated National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster for undermining his efforts to get South Korea to pay for the THAAD missile defense system deployed to the country, a news report said Tuesday.The reprimand came after McMaster called his South Korean counterpart, Kim Kwan-jin, and assured him that Trump's demand for Seoul to pay for the $1 billion missile defense system was not official policy, Bloomberg reported, citing unidentified White House off

May 10, 2017

US warship collides with South Korea’s fishing vessel

A United States warship collided with a South Korean fishing vessel in the East Sea on Tuesday, while conducting a joint military drill, the two countries’ militaries said. US cruiser USS Lake Champlain clashed with South Korean fishing ship 502 Namyang about 83 kilometers south of Ulleung Island at around noon, according to South Korea’s military. US-led Combined Forces Command also confirmed the incident.  Fishing ship 502 Namyang (Yonhap)There were no casualties and the exact cause of the inc

May 9, 2017

Military keeps vigilance ahead of presidential polls

South Korea's defense authorities said Monday they are maintaining a heightened state of alert against a possible provocation by North Korea on the eve of the presidential election here.In recent months, there have been increased military tensions on the peninsula amid a series of the North's ballistic missile launches and speculation that it may conduct another nuclear test or fire a long-range rocket. Moon Sang-gyun, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense (Yonhap)"We are maintaining

May 8, 2017