The Korea Herald

U.S. commander supports Korean prosecution of four U.S. soldiers

The U.S. 2nd Infantry Division commander said Thursday that he fully supports the Korean prosecution of four U.S. soldiers under investigation for alleged misconduct, stressing that he has “zero tolerance” for criminal acts.In a press release, the 2nd ID underscored that the two recent cases of misconduct involving four of its 11,000 Soldiers have dishonored the reputation and legacy of its soldiers as a whole. “The 2nd Infantry Division is cooperating fully with the Korean National Police to en

June 5, 2014

[Graphic News] Possible THAAD deployment stirs controversy

The U.S. is considering deploying an advanced missile defense system to the Korean Peninsula to better counter North Korea’s missile threats. But the possible deployment is raising concerns that it could cause friction with China, which perceives the MD system as targeting it.U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti has confirmed that Washington was considering sending the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system, one of the core assets of the multilayered U.S. MD program, to the pe

June 4, 2014

[Graphic News] Possible THAAD deployment stirs controversy

USFK chief recommends THAAD to Korea

U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti confirmed Tuesday that Washington was considering deploying an advanced missile defense system to South Korea to better deal with “evolving” missile threats from North Korea.During a forum in Seoul, the commander said that he had recommended that the U.S. consider sending the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system, one of the core assets of the multi-layered U.S. MD program, to the peninsula.“There was consideration being taken in order to

June 3, 2014

U.S. mulls deploying MD system in S. Korea: USFK chief

The United States is considering deploying an advanced missile defense system (MD) in South Korea to counter the evolving threats by North Korea, the chief of the United States Forces Korea (USFK) said Tuesday.Media reports have said the U.S. has conducted a site survey in the South for possible locations for a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery, though no final decision has been made."I recommended the deployment of the THAAD missiles to South Korea," USFK commander Gen. Curtis

June 3, 2014

[Newsmaker] Kim reemerges at center of security policy

After three and a half years at the helm of the Defense Ministry, the hawkish Kim Kwan-jin was expected to leave the government to pave the way for a more flexible, conciliatory policy toward North Korea.Yet, he has reemerged as the centerpiece of the Park Geun-hye administration’s security policy as Park seeks to maintain a robust deterrence posture amid Pyongyang’s saber-rattling and menacing rhetoric against Seoul.Park appointed him to head the presidential office of national security on Sund

June 2, 2014

[Newsmaker] Kim reemerges at center of security policy

[Graphic News] U.S. eyes more MD assets in Asia-Pacific

The U.S. is considering deploying more missile defense assets to Asia to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, said Adm. James Winnefeld, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in a speech during a security forum in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.Describing North Korea, along with Iran, as the “chief threats” to the U.S., Winnefeld underscored the need to deploy a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery in South Korea. He said Washington was in talks with Seoul over the

May 29, 2014

[Graphic News] U.S. eyes more MD assets in Asia-Pacific

Scholars, politicians call for Asian trust

JEJUDO ISLAND ― Leading politicians and scholars on Thursday called on Asian states to strive harder to foster mutual trust, peace and stability, which have been undermined by intensifying geopolitical rivalries and threats from nuclear-ambitious North Korea.Former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard and other high-profile figures made opening addresses at the ninth Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, expressing concerns over escalating territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the un

May 29, 2014

Scholars, politicians call for Asian trust

Defense technology exhibition to open

A large-scale defense exhibition will open this week to showcase state-of-the-art military gadgets and spotlight the technological cooperation between the public and private sectors, the defense ministry said Wednesday.The Korea Defense Technology Exhibition For Creative Economy, co-hosted by the defense, science and trade ministries, is to kick off on Thursday for a four-day run at the KINTEX convention center in Ilsan, just north of Seoul. Some 800 defense-related items made by integrating mil

May 28, 2014

Defense chiefs of South Korea, U.S. and Japan discuss N. Korea threats

The defense chiefs of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan will discuss North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, and other regional and global security challenges during their trilateral meeting on the sidelines of an annual defense forum in Singapore later this week, Seoul officials said Wednesday.At the Asia Security Summit, better known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera are als

May 28, 2014

U.S. ups missile defense pressure on Seoul

The U.S. Congress appears to be raising pressure on South Korea to join the U.S.-led missile defense system with a bill calling on the Washington government to explore ways to strengthen ballistic missile defense cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo.The 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the House of Representatives last Thursday, also calls on the Defense Secretary to “conduct an assessment to identify opportunities” to increase the three-way missile defense cooperation.The legis

May 27, 2014

Korean-made torpedo passes final test

Hongsangeo, an indigenous antisubmarine torpedo, has passed a final live-fire test after a series of failed trials that led to the suspension of its production in September 2012, the state defense acquisition agency said Monday.During a performance test on May 7, one practice Hongsangeo torpedo and one live one were tested. Both hit the intended targets, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said. Except for explosives, the practice torpedo has all the same components as the live one.In

May 26, 2014

President dismisses intelligence chief, top security aide

President Park Geun-hye on Thursday dismissed her top security aide and the chief of National Intelligence Service as part of her government overhaul in the wake of last month‘s ferry disaster.She accepted the recently tendered resignations of NIS director Nam Jae-joon and National Security Office chief Kim Jang-soo, the presidential office said. The move came amid rising calls for a personnel overhaul to restore public trust in the government that has been eroding due to its inept response to t

May 22, 2014

President dismisses intelligence chief, top security aide

N.Korea fires near South warship

North Korea on Thursday fired two artillery shells 150 meters from a South Korean patrol ship operating near the Northern Limit Line, a de facto inter-Korean border, sharply ratcheting up tension on the peninsula.The South immediately fired back, and there were no casualties, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.(Yonhap)“At around 6:00 p.m., the North’s artillery shells dropped 14 km southwest of Yeonpyeongdo Island, close to a South Korean patrol ship operating in our waters,” the JCS said in a p

May 22, 2014

Corrupt Army prosecutor reprimanded

The military prosecution has reprimanded one of its staff for demanding a large sum of money from a two-star general whom he had been investigating in a corruption case, sources said Wednesday.The authorities ordered a one-month reduction in the prosecutor’s pay.The prosecutor, whose name was withheld, had been investigating the general since he learned that the high-level officer was offered expensive dinner and drinks by a private company for which one of his military academy alumni works.The

May 21, 2014

China-Russia drills spark air zone tension

South Korea deployed military patrol aircraft and warships to an area under its air defense zone on Tuesday as China and Russia kicked off their joint seven-day maritime drills in the area in the East China Sea without prior notice.Korea’s Defense Ministry also called in a defense attache from the Chinese Embassy in Seoul to request that Beijing notify Korea of future military drills beforehand to prevent any accidental clashes in the overlapping areas of their air defense zones.It is the first

May 20, 2014

[Ferry Disaster] Transfer of coastal patrol mission faces hurdles

The Defense Ministry’s plan to transfer the Army’s land-based coastal defense mission to the maritime police by 2021 is facing hurdles as the government has decided to disband the Coast Guard under intense criticism for its failed response to the ferry disaster last month.“There is a possibility that the plan could face some delays as the mission will have to be transferred to the new institution replacing the maritime police. We also can’t rule out the possibility that the plan could get bogged

May 20, 2014

Seoul, Washington to hold SOFA committee meeting next month

South Korea and the United States plan to hold a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) meeting in June, during which they are expected to mainly discuss the treatment of Korean civilian staff hired by U.S. troops, sources said Tuesday.The meeting of the SOFA Joint Committee will be held in Seoul next month in a bid to mainly discuss ways to enhance the treatment of some 8,500 Koreans working at U.S. military bases, according to the sources.Both sides may exchange views about the treatment and wages

May 20, 2014

S. Korean, U.S., Japanese defense chiefs to meet in Singapore next week

Defense ministers of South Korea, the United States and Japan plan to meet in Singapore next week for possible discussions on cooperation in dealing with North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, officials said Monday.South Korea's Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin is set to meet with his U.S. counterpart Chuck Hagel and Japanese defense chief Itsunori Onodera on May 31 in Singapore on the sidelines of the Asia Security Summit, according to the defense ministry here.The 13th security summit, known

May 19, 2014

Japan’s collective security push sparks controversy

Japan’s stepped-up push for collective self-defense is arousing both concerns and positive expectations as Tokyo pursues a greater security role under its slogan of “active pacifism,” amid rampant suspicions about its true intentions.On Thursday, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed Tokyo’s position on altering the interpretation of the 1947 pacifist constitution to allow for collective self-defense ― the use of force to support its allies if they are attacked.His announcement came after

May 15, 2014

Japan’s collective security push sparks controversy

U.S. intelligence chief visits Seoul

U.S. National Intelligence Director James Clapper met with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin in Seoul on Wednesday apparently to discuss North Korea’s escalating nuclear threats.Clapper was also to meet with senior Seoul officials at the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae and the National Intelligence Service, and visit the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command in central Seoul, sources said.His visit to Seoul came amid rising concerns over Pyongyang’s preparations for what would b

May 14, 2014