The Korea Herald

N. Korea 'exaggerating' sub missile, nuclear claims: ex-U.S. intelligence chief

North Korea is likely to be "exaggerating" claims that it successfully test-launched a ballistic missile from a submarine and miniaturized a nuclear warhead, a former U.S. intelligence chief said Friday. Dennis Blair, former director of national intelligence, also slammed North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for being "very destabilizing, very dangerous," referring to a report by the South Korean spy agency that said Kim's defense minister had been purged and may have been executed.North Korea has pr

May 29, 2015

Safety problems plague reserve force system

Reservist Lee Soo-yul, 28, was subject to reserve forces training on May 18, five days after the deadly shooting that killed three reservists.“I was nervous,” said Lee. “But I was able to get through the fear thanks to the assistant officers. They gave me one-on-one guidance throughout the training. They brought me a bulletproof jacket and fixed the safety hook. I felt really relieved,” said Lee.Still, the one-on-one assistance was only implemented by the Defense Ministry after a 23-year-old res

May 27, 2015

Safety problems plague reserve force system

Park, Obama unlikely to discuss THAAD at next month's summit: Russel

South Korean President Park Geun-hye and U.S. President Barack Obama are not expected to discuss the THAAD missile defense system when they hold a summit in Washington next month, a senior American official said Thursday. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel made the remark during a Foreign Press Center briefing, saying the two allies have not even begun government-to-government discussions on the sensitive topic. "I do not expect President Obama and Pre

May 22, 2015

Air Force chief receives "stern warning" over misconduct

The Air Force chief has received "a stern warning" from the Defense Ministry for misconduct and negligence of duty involving budget use, officials said Thursday. Gen. Choi Cha-kyu, Air Force chief of staff, had been under audit after suspicions mounted over his alleged misuse of public funds. "Over the course of remodeling the Air Force chief's office in July 2014, the military was found to have wasted 14 million won ($12,797)," said a ministry official in charge of the audit. "Choi also eit

May 21, 2015

S. Korean lawmakers differ over THAAD introduction

Controversy has been rekindled here over the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense in South Korea as U.S. officials have openly raised the sensitive issue. Washington has expressed its willingness to deploy a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery on the Korean Peninsula, home to about 28,500 American troops, to better cope with the growing threats of Pyongyang's nuclear and missile capabilities. On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the North's "provocative activ

May 21, 2015

S. Korea, U.S. to launch joint military division

South Korea and the United States will put a landmark combined division in operation next month to bolster combat readiness against North Korean threats, the U.S. military said Thursday. Last year, the allies agreed to establish the combined wartime division of their troops to enhance a joint defense posture and "tactical-level" combat capabilities to better deter the belligerent North Korea. The new division will consist of a brigade from the South Korean Army and the U.S. 2nd Infantry Divisi

May 21, 2015

Kerry's remark about THAAD meant 'internal U.S. discussions': State Department

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was referring to "internal U.S. discussions" when he said during a visit to South Korea earlier this week that talks are under way about the THAAD missile defense system, his department said Wednesday. Kerry made the remark during a meeting Monday with U.S. service personnel stationed in South Korea. Speaking of how provocative and unpredictable North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is, Kerry said that is "why we're talking about THAAD." Kerry's remark rekindled in

May 21, 2015

Seoul seen displeased by U.S.’ THAAD talk

South Korea said Wednesday it would make an “independent decision” over the U.S. potential deployment of an advanced missile defense asset to Korea, based on its calculation of security interests and the system’s military efficacy.The statement was seen to reflect a subtle change in Seoul’s position over the much publicized emphasis of senior U.S. officials on the need for deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system here. It also showed Seoul’s dilemma over the contentious deploymen

May 20, 2015

S. Korea, Japan to hold first defense ministers' talks in 4 yrs

South Korean and Japanese defense chiefs are expected to hold bilateral talks later this month for the first time in four years despite soured ties over historical rows, government sources here said Tuesday.Defense Minister Han Min-koo plans to meet with his Japanese counterpart Gen Nakatani around the end of this month in Singapore on the sidelines of the regional security forum, the Shangri-La Dialogue, according to a source. The upcoming annual security forum is slated for May 29-31.If held,

May 19, 2015

S. Korea reviews THAAD effectiveness: Seoul official

South Korea has been reviewing whether a U.S. advanced missile-defense system will help boost its defense capabilities against North Korea, a government official said Tuesday. The possible deployment of the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery on Korean soil has drawn keen attention here, as the U.S. has expressed such willingness to do so, which has sparked concerns from China and Russia. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said during a meeting with U.S. service personnel stationed he

May 19, 2015

Navy launches live-fire drill in East Sea against N.K. provocations

The Navy launched a firing drill in the East Sea Tuesday to boost its capabilities against possible provocations by North Korea, the Navy said. The drill, which involved firing ship-to-ship guided missiles, along with the tactical training, "is meant to boost and check our capabilities of conducting the military's joint operations against possible provocations by North Korea such as those near the western sea border of the Northern Limit Line (NLL)," the Navy said in a statement. The drill inv

May 19, 2015

S. Korea stages military drill to defend Dokdo

South Korea is conducting a military drill to defend its easternmost islets of Dokdo amid Japan's renewed claims to the territory, military officers said Friday. The Navy, jointly with the Coast Guard, "are carrying out the two-day drill from yesterday on and around the rocky outcroppings in the East Sea," said a Navy officer, requesting anonymity. "It is designed to deter any trespassers on our territory via a sea or air route."The exercise has been carried out twice a year since 1986, with the

May 15, 2015

Shooting spree premeditated: Army

The reserve soldier who carried out Wednesday’s shooting spree at a Seoul military training camp had deliberately planned the attack and sent mobile messages bearing signs of suicide to a friend, the Army said Thursday. The 23-year-old reservist, surnamed Choi, had asked to be placed in the first firing line to make it easy for him to aim at colleagues, the Army said. After receiving a magazine with 10 rounds for a K-2 rifle, he fired one at the target then suddenly turn around to fire seven mor

May 14, 2015

EMP protection firm carves out Korean niche

A local firm specializing in facilities to protect against electromagnetic pulse attacks is carving out a leading market position with a series of patents and its decades-old experience in the increasingly important defense field.Established in 1989, YES EMP Research Center has five patents regarding EMP protection. It is the only local firm capable of designing, installing and maintaining EMP protection systems specifically tailored for each customer.With its accumulated know-how, the firm has

May 12, 2015

EMP protection firm carves out Korean niche

[Newsmaker] N.K. submarine missile serious threat

North Korea’s push to develop a submarine-launched ballistic missile is posing a daunting security challenge to South Korea and the U.S. as the allies would have almost no means to counter the emerging threat should it become fully operational. The allies have so far been focusing on countering missile threats from land-based launchers as they believed Pyongyang was far from developing an SLBM given the small size of its submarines and outdated technology.But the North’s test-firing last week sh

May 11, 2015

[Newsmaker] N.K. submarine missile serious threat

S. Korea develops chemical warfare vehicle

South Korea has developed a new reconnaissance vehicle for use in chemical, biological and radiological warfare, the Defense Ministry announced Monday."Today, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration succeeded in developing a new-type CBR reconnaissance vehicle with domestic technology," ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said.The state arms procurement agency launched a related project, worth some 22 billion won ($20.1 million), in December 2011 in cooperation with Doosan DST Co., a local de

May 11, 2015

N. Korea test-fires underwater ballistic missile: KCNA

North Korea carried out an underwater test-fire of a submarine ballistic missile, watched by its leader Kim Jong-un, the state media said Saturday, in an apparent move to boost its underwater missile capabilities that could pose a fresh threat in the region. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the mouthpiece of the communist state, reported that Kim issued an order for the test-fire and watched the ballistic missile from the submarine "soar into the sky from underwater."The article did not s

May 9, 2015

Korea unveils new attack submarine

South Korea unveiled a new 1,800-ton attack submarine on Thursday amid its stepped-up efforts to cope with evolving maritime security challenges such as from North Korea. The 214-class submarine, the country’s sixth, was built by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co. and for the first time named after a woman ― Yu Gwan-sun, a venerated independent fighter during Japanese colonial rule. Defense Minister Han Min-koo, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Chung Ho-seop, other top military and ind

May 7, 2015

S. Korea launches new attack submarine

South Korea unveiled its sixth 1,800-ton-class attack submarine Thursday aimed at boosting its underwater warfare capabilities against North Korea.The launching ceremony for the 214-class submarine, manufactured by Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Co. and named after revered independence fighter Yu Gwan-sun (1902-1920), will take place in the southern coastal city of Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, according to the Navy.The Navy plans to commission the submarine in November 2016, it

May 7, 2015

Korea to stage military drill to defend Dokdo

South Korea plans to stage a military drill to better defend its easternmost islets of Dokdo this month as Japan ratchets up its sovereignty claims, officials said Wednesday. The exercise is designed to stave off any illegal approaches and will be conducted jointly by the military and coast guard for two days late this month on and around the windswept outcrops in the East Sea, they said. Among the scheduled plans is a landing training exercise by the Navy’s Underwater Demolition and Sea, Air an

May 6, 2015