S. Korea's Marine Corps launches aircraft group

South Korea's Marine Corps launched an aircraft group Wednesday to bolster the defense of border islands and wartime capabilities for landing operations, its officials said. The launch of the Marine Aircraft Group came as the armed service had sought to secure a separate air unit after its earlier unit, formed following the 1950-53 Korean War, was incorporated into the Navy in 1973. The launch ceremony took place at the newly minted group in Pohang, 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul, with the

Dec. 1, 2021

Military reports 38 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military reported 38 additional COVID-19 cases Wednesday, including cluster infections at an Army unit in Gangwon Province, bringing the total caseload among its personnel to 2,366. Ten Army conscripts stationed at a base in Hwacheon, 118 kilometers northeast of Seoul, tested positive after a fellow was infected at their base. All of the newly added patients from the base were fully vaccinated. The military added it is carrying out COVID-19 tests on around 300 troops on the base.

Dec. 1, 2021

Pentagon chief due in Seoul for annual security talks on N. Korea, alliance

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is set to arrive in Seoul on Wednesday for annual security talks with his South Korean counterpart on the envisioned wartime operational control (OPCON) transfer, North Korean threats and the bilateral alliance, Seoul officials said. Austin is scheduled to land at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, in the afternoon, for a three-day trip on the eve of the 53rd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at the defense ministry here. This year's

Dec. 1, 2021

Pentagon calls for enhancing alliance to deter China, NK in review

The US Defense Department on Monday called for enhanced cooperation with allies, including South Korea, to deter challenges posed by China and North Korea and to sustain stability in the Indo-Pacific region in its global posture review, or GPR. After a nearly 10-month review, the Joe Biden administration released its first GPR since taking office, although most details remain classified. The review shows the assessment of the US posture across major regions outside the US, such as overseas fo

Nov. 30, 2021

Military reports 23 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military reported 23 additional COVID-19 cases Tuesday, bringing the total caseload among its personnel to 2,328. Among the new cases, five Army officers and a conscript stationed in the central city of Sejong tested positive after a fellow was infected at their base. A civilian employee of the Army based in Seoul tested positive after working at a COVID-19 testing center. Another Army conscript from Jincheon, 91 kilometers south of Seoul, also contracted the virus after working

Nov. 30, 2021

Defense minister thanks ex-USFK chief Brooks for contribution to alliance

Defense Minister Suh Wook expressed appreciation to a visiting former US Forces Korea (USFK) commander for his contributions to the bilateral alliance during a meeting earlier this week, the defense ministry said Tuesday. Suh and Vincent Brooks, who led the USFK from 2016-18, met Monday, as the latter was in Seoul to attend a set of alliance-related events ahead of the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), the annual defense ministerial talks between the two countries slated for Thursday. Suh e

Nov. 30, 2021

S. Korea to host global forum on maritime law

South Korea is set to host an annual international forum on maritime law, setting the stage for judicial officials and academics to discuss emerging challenges from the new oceans technologies and environmental crises, the foreign ministry said Monday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UN-backed International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) will jointly hold the sixth International Conference on the Law of the Sea on Tuesday and Wednesday in Incheon, west of Seoul. Albert Hoffm

Nov. 29, 2021

Military reports 13 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military reported 13 additional COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing the total caseload among its personnel to 2,305. Among the new cases, three Army conscripts stationed in Seoul tested positive after one of them contracted the virus during a vacation. A civilian employee of the Air Force based in Osan, 55 kilometers south of Seoul, tested positive while in self-quarantine. An Army officer stationed in Yangju, north of Seoul, contracted the virus after a family member was infected.

Nov. 29, 2021

Pentagon chief to visit S. Korea this week for annual security talks

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Seoul this week for annual defense talks with his South Korean counterpart on the envisioned transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), North Korean threats, cybersecurity and other issues, Seoul officials have said. Austin is set to depart for South Korea on Tuesday (Washington time) to attend the 53rd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) slated for Thursday. It marks the first SCM between Seoul's Defense Minister Suh Wook and Austin since the

Nov. 29, 2021

S. Korean, US defense chiefs to discuss OPCON transfer, China

South Korean and US defense ministers will discuss a wide range of security and alliance issues, from the transfer of wartime operational control to challenges posed by China and North Korea. South Korea’s Defense Minister Suh Wook and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are set to host the 53rd ROK-US Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in Seoul on Thursday. The US high-ranking officers, including Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley, Commander of the United States Indo-Pacif

Nov. 26, 2021

Remains of another Korean War soldier identified

The remains of a soldier killed in the 1950-53 Korean War have been identified through DNA analysis more than a decade after they were recovered from a former battle site, the defense ministry said Friday. The identification of the remains of Pfc. Lim Ho-dae came as his daughter registered her DNA sample with the government. She was less than a month old when her father joined the war. Lim's remains were excavated from Hwacheon, 118 kilometers east of Seoul, in 2010. He was found along with ot

Nov. 26, 2021

Military reports 19 additional COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military reported 19 additional COVID-19 cases Friday, down nine from a day earlier, bringing the total caseload among its personnel to 2,264. Two Army conscripts based in Paju, north of Seoul, contracted the virus after one of their fellows was infected. An officer stationed at a unit under the direct control of the ministry in Seoul and an Army conscript stationed in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of the capital city, also tested positive following a case at their bases.

Nov. 26, 2021

Air force chief to visit Colombia, Peru for military diplomacy

South Korea's Air Force chief will visit Colombia and Peru next week as part of military diplomacy focusing largely on strengthening arms industry cooperation with the South American countries, his office said Friday. During his visit to the Colombian capital city of Bogota, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Park In-ho will attend the Expodefensa 2021, one of the largest defense exhibitions in the region. Park also plans to separately hold talks with Colombian Defense Minister Diego Molano Aponte

Nov. 26, 2021

Daily COVID-19 cases in military double from day earlier

South Korea's military on Thursday reported 28 new COVID-19 cases, double the previous day's tally, as it enforces eased social-distancing rules in line with the nationwide scheme for a gradual return to normal life. The latest tally brought the total caseload among the military personnel to 2,245. Among the new cases, two Army officers and four troops stationed in the central city of Gyeryong, tested positive after a civilian employee from their base contracted the virus. Five Army officers

Nov. 25, 2021

S. Korea to honor fallen heroes of 'Battle of Chosin Reservoir'

South Korea plans to hold an annual ceremony later this week to honor the sacrifices of the troops killed in a major battle of the 1950-53 Korean War, the veterans affairs ministry said Thursday. The event to commemorate the Battle of Chosin Reservoir will take place in the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul on Friday with the attendance of some 400 people, according to the ministry. Key participants will include Veterans Affairs Minister Hwang Ki-chul and Christopher Del Corso, charge d'affaires

Nov. 25, 2021

Military reports 14 additional COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military reported 14 additional COVID-19 cases Wednesday, bringing the total caseload among its personnel to 2,217. Six Army service members tested positive before and after they returned to their bases after their vacations. An officer of an Air Force unit in Osan, 55 kilometers south of Seoul, contracted the virus after developing symptoms. Another in the same unit also tested positive after coming in contact with him. One draftee of an Army unit in Pyeongtaek, 70km south of

Nov. 24, 2021

S. Korea to provide 16 helicopters for UN peacekeeping operations: source

South Korea plans to offer more than a dozen military choppers to support UN peacekeeping operations (PKO) , multiple sources said Wednesday, as Seoul seeks to increase its contributions to the key mission of the international organization. Seoul has been in talks with two or three countries that have shown an interest in using the helicopters as part of their PKO operations in conflict-laden parts of the world, according to a source who requested anonymity. Another source said the United Nati

Nov. 24, 2021

S. Korea commemorates sacrifices of 2 Marines in 2010 N. Korean artillery attack

South Korea's defense chief vowed Tuesday to never forget the "noble" sacrifices of two Marines killed in a 2010 North Korean artillery attack on a western border island, stressing they laid the groundwork for peace. Defense Minister Suh Wook made the remarks during an annual ceremony marking the 11th anniversary of the attack on Yeonpyeong Island near the western inter-Korean sea border, which killed two Marines and two civilians. "I think that based on their noble sacrifices,

Nov. 23, 2021

Military reports 10 additional COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military reported 10 additional COVID-19 cases Tuesday, bringing the total caseload among its personnel to 2,203. An officer of the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command based in Seoul tested positive after developing symptoms. A civilian employee of the Air Force stationed in Osan, 55 kilometers south of Seoul, and an Army officer in the central city of Daejeon were also confirmed to have contracted the virus after exhibiting symptoms. An Army officer stationed in Pocheon, 46

Nov. 23, 2021

Military reports 5 additional COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military reported five additional COVID-19 cases Monday, bringing the total caseload among its personnel to 2,193. An Army officer stationed in Paju, 30 kilometers north of Seoul, tested positive following a vacation. Another officer based at the defense ministry's compound in Seoul tested positive after developing symptoms. Three other service members contracted the virus from their family members. Of the cumulative cases in the military, 85 patients are still under treatment.

Nov. 22, 2021