The German branch of the international Catholic relief group Caritas vaccinated 430,000 North Korean children against Japanese encephalitis earlier this month, the group said Thursday.The North Korean children vaccinated in the first round of anti-Japanese encephalitis vaccination programs on July 2 are those living in South Hwanghae Province, just north of the inter-Korean border, an official at Caritas Germany told Yonhap News Agency. The group plans to vaccinate a total of 3.2 million North K

July 11, 2013

South Korea will stop the current bidding for fighter jets and revise the project as high price tags have made the chance of selecting a satisfactory contractor slim, a senior official said Thursday. The move comes after the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) carried out 55 separate biddings with three defense groups to buy 60 advanced jets with an 8.3 trillion won ($7.2 billion) budget, but the procedure was put on hold last week due to their expensive price tags. Boeing's F-15 S

July 11, 2013

The Defense Ministry said Wednesday it requested the government to increase its budget by 6.9 percent to 36.8 trillion won ($32.2 billion) next year to enhance combat capabilities and improve solders’ welfare. The proposal includes a 15-percent salary hike for enlisted troops and outlays for a series of procurement projects for weapons systems, such as mid-range air-to-surface guided bombs, surveillance aircraft, satellites and high-tech destroyers. The plan was submitted to the Ministry of Stra

July 10, 2013

A Seoul court sentenced a former high-ranking prosecutor to seven years behind bars on Tuesday for receiving large sums of bribes in exchange for favors.Kim Kwang-joon was found guilty of receiving some 380 million won ($333,000) worth of bribes from several suspects he was investigating, including Cho Hee-pal, the mastermind behind the country’s biggest-ever pyramid scheme.The Seoul Central District Court also ordered the 52-year-old former prosecutor of the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office to pa

July 9, 2013

The South Korean Navy’s chief of staff on Tuesday visited China to promote bilateral military ties and discuss ways to prevent maritime clashes in the Yellow Sea during peak fishing seasons, the Navy said. On the first day of his four-day trip, Adm. Choi Yun-hee met Wu Shengli, commander in chief of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, in Shanghai to explore measures to curb naval clashes near the western sea border between Chinese fishermen and South Korean Coast Guards. The two discussed ways to

July 9, 2013

South Korea's plan to buy 60 fighter jets has been temporarily put on ice as three competitors have failed to offer prices within Seoul's 8.3 trillion won ($7.2 billion) budget, further delaying the replacement of its aging fleet. Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle, Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth jet and the Eurofighter Tranche 3 Typhoon from the European Aerospace Defense and Space Company (EADS) participated in the bidding sessions from June 18 to July 5 to win Seoul's largest arms import deal. The De

July 8, 2013

A weapon designed to blast nuclear missiles out of the sky has been tested at a Southern California coastal base but failed to hit its target.The Missile Defense Agency, part of the U.S. Department of Defense, said a ground-based interceptor missile was launched Friday. Its target: a missile launched 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometers) away from the Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.The interceptor did not hit its target. Officials will try to determine the cause of any anomalies that may have pre

July 6, 2013

South Korea has temporarily suspended bidding for its next-generation fighter jet project as none of the contenders met the preset budget limit, the state arms procurer said Friday.South Korea is pushing to buy 60 fighter jets to replace its aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets starting from 2017.Vying for the project are Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle; Lockheed Martin's F-35 stealth jet; and the Eurofighter Tranche 3 Typhoon from the European Aerospace Defense and Space Company.The Defense Acquisition P

July 5, 2013

The military’s Cyber Command signed a memorandum of understanding with the government-sponsored cyber security firm Korea Internet Security Agency on Friday, pledging to combine forces against future cyber attacks. A communication hotline will be established to quickly counter massive online attacks while the two institutions will also share intelligence concerning cyber security.“Our command’s MOU with KISA will undoubtedly enhance our nation’s cyber security capabilities,” said Brig. Gen. Ok D

July 5, 2013

The defense chiefs of South Korea and Australia discussed bilateral cooperation in securing peace on the peninsula and tackling other regional and global security challenges during their talks in Seoul on Wednesday. Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith exchanged their views on North Korea’s nuclear threat and ways to bolster defense collaboration in various areas, including intelligence, Seoul officials said.The regular defense ministers’ meeting between the

July 3, 2013

The Defense Ministry plans to ban its staff from using smartphones, except for calling and texting, within its main building in an effort to prevent any leaks of military secrets. Visitors will also be required to leave their smartphones at the entrance, officials said Wednesday.The measures are taken as the ministry is proceeding with a 8.3 trillion ($7.3 million) project to introduce advanced fighter jets. Two military officials are under investigation on charges of leaking classified data rel

July 3, 2013

South Korea is revving up diplomatic efforts to put pressure on North Korea to give up its nuclear programs when an Asian security meeting opens here next week, Seoul officials said Saturday.Top diplomats and senior officials from 27 Asia-Pacific nations are scheduled to begin a two-day ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Brunei on Monday. The annual meeting will also bring together North Korea and all other key players in Asia and the Pacific.The forum, hosted by the 10-member Association of Southeas

June 30, 2013

The second round of bidding for South Korea's multibillion dollar fighter jet project ended on Friday, with none offering a price below the 8.3 trillion ($7.3 million) budget, the state defense procurement agency said.  The next bidding session begins next Tuesday, said the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). South Korea is pushing to buy 60 jets to replace South Korean Air Force's aging fleet of F-4 and F-5 jets starting from 2017. Competing are Boeing's F-15 Silent Eagle; Lockhe

June 28, 2013