South Korea, the United States and Japan started two-day trilateral naval drills on Thursday in waters south of the Korean Peninsula as North Korea bristled at the exercise as a "reckless provocation." The maneuvers off the southern island of Jeju are aimed at improving interoperability and communications between the navies of the three nations to facilitate cooperative disaster relief and maritim

June 21, 2012

South Korea’s 8.3 trillion won ($7.2 billion) project to buy new fighter jets is stuttering with less than five months left in the government’s planned schedule.The Air Force plans to acquire 60 new fighter jets to replace aging F-4 and F-5 jets in the nation’s largest-ever single defense acquisition program, called FX-III.The Defense Acquisition Program Administration set the deadline for proposals for June 18, and plans to select the model by the end of October. However, the DAPA has been forc

June 21, 2012

A rising actor earning about 150 million won ($134,000) a year won exemption from military service by citing poverty, the state audit agency said Thursday, showing how South Korea’s conscription system is still riddled with loopholes.The actor, whose identity was withheld, was declared fit to serve in the military in 2001, but repeatedly postponed his enlistment under a false pretext of preparing for a civil service exam until 2009.In 2010, he was given a military exemption on grounds of economi

June 21, 2012

South Korea could put off a decision to select a supplier for a multi-billion-dollar purchase of advanced combat fighter jets if it is necessary for the "national interest," the head of the nation's arms procurement agency said Wednesday. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration reopened bidding Tuesday for the fighter-jet contract worth upward of 8.3 trillion won ($7.1 billion), a day after

June 20, 2012

The U.S. Forces Korea is moving to strengthen the capabilities of its ground units ahead of the wartime operational control handover to South Korean forces in 2015.The U.S. military is reported to be bringing MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System and M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System units to South Korea. In addition, the U.S. is replacing older tanks and armored vehicles with the M1A2 Abrams battle tank and the M2A2 Bradley armored vehicles.The changes are aimed at bolstering the allies against

June 18, 2012

The South Korean and U.S. militaries will increase cooperation in countering North Korea’s missile threats, a Defense Ministry official said on Sunday. The U.S. forces will share intelligence and provide support for an air and missile defense system South Korea plans to launch in December, the official said. The increase in Seoul-Washington collaboration in missile defenses is thought to have resulted as part of a compromise in the negotiations over extending the range of ballistic missiles Sout

June 17, 2012

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta expressed optimism Thursday over talks with South Korea on its push to develop greater ballistic missile capability."I think we are making good progress," he said during a joint press conference with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin.Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan also joined in, describing the outc

June 15, 2012

Korea’s Ministry of National Defense and U.S. Forces Korea have denied reports that U.S.F.K. commander Gen. James Thurman suggested keeping the Combined Forces Command intact after the handover of wartime operational control to Seoul in 2015.On Thursday a local daily reported that Thurman had suggested keeping the Combined Forces Command intact after the handover with the top post being held by a Korean general. The post is currently held by the commander of the U.S.F.K.Under the plans for the w

June 14, 2012

Kurt Campbell, a top U.S. diplomat for East Asia and the Pacific, said Wednesday that Washington hopes for "stable and enduring" relations between Seoul and Tokyo.He emphasized that the two Northeast Asian nations are key allies in the U.S. effort to promote both "multilateral and minilateral engagements.""What we want to see is a more stable, enduring engagement between Seoul and Tokyo going forw

June 14, 2012

Key instruments and performances of the three fighter jets competing for Korea’s FX-III fighter jet procurement program will be tested using simulators, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said Wednesday.According to DAPA, all three models have some aspects that are still under development, limiting tests using the actual aircraft.The revelation comes less than a week since the DAPA came under fire over plans to test the F-35 using simulators due to incomplete development. The three f

June 13, 2012

Sen. Carl Levin, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Tuesday that he would not take issue with South Korea's development of longer-range missiles if they are deployed in a "defense and non-threatening" way."If they want to do it in a non-threatening way, totally defensive way at its own expense, I don't have any problem going on," he said at the National Press Club.South Kore

June 13, 2012

The U.S. military in South Korea is asking the Pentagon to deploy more attack helicopters, reconnaissance aircraft and missile assets here to boost its war-fighting capabilities, its top commander said Tuesday. The remarks by Gen. James Thurman come at a time of renewed tension on the Korean Peninsula amid concerns North Korea may soon conduct a third nuclear test or carry out another military pro

June 12, 2012

CUSCO, Peru (Yonhap News) ― Peruvian rescue officials said Sunday they have recovered the bodies of all 14 people killed in a helicopter crash last week, including those of eight South Koreans.The wreckage of the ill-fated helicopter was discovered Saturday on Mama Rosa mountain at about 4,950 meters above sea level near Coline in southern Peru.The chopper had gone missing Wednesday while returning from a trip to a potential site for a hydropower plant near Mazuco in southeastern Peru. The South

June 11, 2012

Seoul to elevate rank of its cyber unit’s commander, boost number of specialistsSouth Korea is striving to bolster its cyber combat capabilities as North Korea continues to pose an increasing security threat with its advanced electronic warfare skills and personnel.Seoul’s Defense Ministry seeks to elevate the rank of its cyber commander to major general from the current brigadier general and increase the number of staff, a senior military official told media.“We have drawn up plans to strengthe

June 10, 2012