Support grows for THAAD location 'Plan B'

Residents of Seongju-gun, the intended site of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, on Friday inched one step closer to accepting the government’s plan to deploy the US weapon in the county, backing up from their initial complete rejection of the idea. The local committee on the retraction of the THAAD deployment in Seongju held an emergency meeting to discuss whether to retain its demand to scrap the plan completely. Although they failed to reach an agreement, the committee decided t

Aug. 19, 2016

Park's summit diplomacy next month to focus on THAAD, NK threats

President Park Geun-hye's summit diplomacy next month is likely to focus on highlighting the necessity of deploying an advanced US missile defense system in South Korea and tightening international cooperation against Pyongyang's unrelenting military threats, analysts here said Friday.On Sept. 2, Park will embark on a weeklong trip to Russia, China and Laos for a series of multilateral and bilateral summits on regional and global issues, which would serve as a crucial opportunity for her to ensu

Aug. 19, 2016

S. Korea to conduct largest-ever artillery drill to check N. Korean provocations

South Korea's military said Thursday that it will carry out the largest-ever artillery drill near the border with North Korea to demonstrate its determination to retaliate against future provocations. The drill will take place in the afternoon, one day before South Korea marks the first anniversary of the North's shelling of areas south of the Demilitarized Zone that separates the two Koreas."Some 300 artillery pieces from 49 artillery battalions are planning to take part in the live-fire exerci

Aug. 18, 2016

Minister defends THAAD deployment

Defense Minister Han Min-koo on Wednesday attempted to soothe the irate citizens of Seongju-gun -- who live adjacent to the planned location of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system -- by apologizing for a lack of communication and once again justifying the deployment location. The minister also said that he “will consider” revising the plan to place the US advanced missile defense system in Seongsan-ri, Seongju to put it in another region in the county, presumably at a location more re

Aug. 17, 2016

Military submarine explosion kills 3, injures 1

A submarine explosion that occurred at a Navy repair facility left three military personnel killed and one injured, Defense Ministry said Tuesday.The explosion, which happened around 8:30 a.m. in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province, is presumed to have been caused by the gas accumulated within the vessel, a ministry official explained. “The submarine had been placed in the repair facility for a regular inspection from May 2 to Sept. 2, and was about to be moved for repairs today,” a military offic

Aug. 16, 2016

US Army chief to visit S. Korea on THAAD

The US Army chief of staff is set to visit South Korea on Wednesday for a three-day trip to be briefed on the progress of the upcoming deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, according to South Korean and US military officials.Gen. Mark A. Milley, the 39th US Army chief of staff, is scheduled to hold a meeting with South Korea’s Army Chief of Staff Jang Jun-kyu on Friday, an Army official said.It is part of his Aug. 15-23 trip to South Korea, China, Japan and Hawaii to visi

Aug. 16, 2016

Submarine blast kills 1, injures 2

A submarine blast during repair works killed one and injured two, while one remains missing as of Tuesday afternoon at a naval port in Jinjae, South Gyeongsang Province, military officials said.The explosion of the small submarine occurred at around 8:30 a.m. while it was undergoing repairs, the officials said.A naval base in Jinhae, South Gyeongsang Province (Yonhap)One of the two injured is in critical condition. The missing official reportedly fell into the sea from the impact of the blast, t

Aug. 16, 2016

Defense chief to persuade Seongju locals on THAAD

Defense Minister Han Min-koo will visit a southern town of Seongju-gun on Wednesday to address concerns among local residents about the upcoming deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, the ministry said Tuesday.It marks Han’s second trip to Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, since the region was selected to house the advanced missile defense system of the US to counter North Korea’s ballistic missile threats. The deployment talks between Seoul and Washington took off in Fe

Aug. 16, 2016

Defense chief to visit THAAD site for dialogue with residents

South Korea's defense chief will visit Seongju, the selected site for an advanced U.S. anti-missile system this week, to hold talks with local residents angered by the "unilateral" deployment decision, the defense ministry said Tuesday. Han Min-koo will visit the rural county, 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Wednesday, "mainly to listen to the opinions of local residents about the planned deployment of the THAAD battery," Moon Sang-gyun, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, sa

Aug. 16, 2016

KATUSA celebrates 66th anniversary, as further augmented roles expected

The Korean Augmentation Troops to the U.S. Army, or KATUSA, celebrated the 66th anniversary of its foundation Monday, according to the KATUSA Veterans Association. Some 400 U.S. military officials, KATUSA war veterans, KATUSA reservists and active-duty KATUSA soldiers participated in the event at Camp Jackson, a U.S. military base, in Uijeongbu, north of Seoul.KATUSA Veterans Association Chairman Kim Jong-wook and 2nd Infantry Division Commander Theodore D. Martin were among the participants. Ch

Aug. 15, 2016

South Korea's military to greatly increase Hyunmoo missiles

South Korea's military will greatly increase the number of Hyunmoo missiles in its inventory to better counter North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats, sources said Sunday.Government insiders said the military is devising a plan to simultaneously take out missile bases all across North Korea in times of crisis. "To accomplish this, the South needs more ballistic missiles at its disposal," said an official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.He said that procuring more short-range

Aug. 15, 2016

S. Korea to use 'jam-proof' U.S. military GPS technology on guided bombs

South Korea's ability to counter North Korea's long-range multiple launch rocket threat will get a boost after its guided bombs get "jam-proof" U.S. technology, the military said Sunday.According to sources, the recent decision by Washington to allow its military global positioning system (GPS) technology to be used by Seoul will greatly enhance the capabilities of its Korea GPS guided bomb (KGGB) arsenal that will be tasked with taking out North Korean rocket launchers.The first KGGBs that can

Aug. 14, 2016

Korea defense chief to visit THAAD site next week for dialogue

South Korea's defense chief plans to visit Seongju county, which was selected to host the advanced U.S. missile defense system, to hold talks with residents angered with the "unilateral" deployment decision, the defense ministry said Friday. "We are fine-tuning the defense minister's schedule for the visit that will probably take place next week," said a ministry official, who declined to be identified.The remarks come after some media outlets speculated that Han may visit the rural county, 296

Aug. 12, 2016

Beating up on Korea not proper response from China to THAAD: U.S. expert

Beating up on South Korea is not the right response from China to Seoul's decision to host the U.S. THAAD missile defense system because the agreement does not reflect hostility toward Beijing, a U.S. expert said Thursday.Instead, China should focus on reining in North Korea as Pyongyang's provocations not only provided justification for the deployment, but are endangering important Chinese security interests as well, Ted Galen Carpenter, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, said."There is no

Aug. 12, 2016