Pentagon official expresses condolences over Korean War hero Paik's death

A senior Pentagon official has mourned the passing of Korean War hero Paik Sun-yup, calling him a "stalwart friend" of the alliance between South Korea and the United States. In a message delivered via the Korea-US Alliance Foundation on Wednesday, David Helvey, acting assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, said Paik's passing is a "great loss" to the armed forces of both countries. "He was a stalwart friend of the Alliance and a man of gre

July 16, 2020

US troops advised to follow COVID-19 rules after beach havoc

United States Forces Korea on Tuesday advised its personnel stationed in South Korea to strictly observe the antivirus guidelines the country has been urging local residents to follow in an effort to contain the coronavirus pandemic. The US military in a Twitter post highlighted wearing a mask, keeping a safe distance from one another and not eating or drinking on beaches, after soldiers caused controversy with a Fourth of July party that included fireworks on Haeundae Beach in Busan. About 20

July 15, 2020

US sends surveillance plane to air base in Japan: aviation tracker

The United States has deployed a surveillance aircraft to one of its air bases in Japan, an aviation tracker has said, for a possible mission near the Korean Peninsula. An RC-135S Cobra Ball plane departed Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska for Kadena Air Base in Japan's Okinawa, Aircraft Spots said in a Twitter post Sunday, without elaborating on the exact time of its flight. On Saturday, the aviation tracker said RC-135U Combat Sent departed the Kadena base for a mission in the East Sea.

July 13, 2020

S. Korea, US could suspend joint drills again: sources

South Korea and the United States could scale back their annual joint military exercises in August over coronavirus concerns or suspend them altogether, sources said Saturday. March drills were cancelled because of the pandemic. “While both sides share the understanding the August drills should be conducted, things are flexible given the persisting coronavirus pandemic,” a Defense Ministry official said. The drills would require bringing in members of the US reserve force

July 12, 2020

S. Korea, US may cancel summertime combined exercise due to COVID-19: sources

South Korea and the United States appear increasingly likely to scale back or even call off a major combined exercise again due to the new coronavirus, after indefinitely postponing their annual springtime drill earlier this year, sources said Saturday. The repeated skipping of annual exercises, if realized, is feared to affect the joint combat posture between the two countries, as well as South Korea's planned takeover of the wartime operational control (OPCON) of its forces from the US. &

July 11, 2020

9 Americans affiliated with USFK confirmed with coronavirus

Eight American service members and one civilian employee for the US Forces Korea have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the US military said Friday. Of the nine, seven arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, on two US government chartered flights, while the others arrived here on commercial flights, it said. All nine individuals tested positive in their first mandatory COVID-19 test prior to entering quarantine, and they have been moved to isolation facilities at the US

July 10, 2020

Military launches sexual violence probe team, victim support center

The defense ministry opened a shelter Thursday for victims of sexual crimes at barracks following the launch of an investigative unit specialized in sexual violence and human rights abuse cases, it said. The launch of the victim support center is part of the military's broader efforts to prevent sexual violence and carry out probes in a more victim-centered manner, according to the ministry. In January, the military launched a separate investigative unit focused on sexual violence cases and d

July 9, 2020

Defense minister, USFK chief hold unannounced meeting amid consultations over key exercise

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo held an unannounced meeting with US Forces Korea (USFK) Commander Gen. Robert Abrams this week, sources said Wednesday, as Seoul and Washington have been working to arrange their summertime combined exercise amid the new coronavirus. Jeong and Abrams held the meeting at the ministry's main building in Seoul on Tuesday "to discuss diverse pending issues," a source said. Detailed agenda items were not known, but the meeting took place at a time when S

July 8, 2020

Vice defense ministers of S. Korea, Vietnam vow cooperation against COVID-19

The vice defense ministers of South Korea and Vietnam held talks via video links Monday and pledged to strengthen cooperation against the new coronavirus and other security issues, Seoul's defense ministry said. During the talks with Nguyen Chi Vinh, Vice Defense Minister Park Jae-in explained the government's response against COVID-19, and said South Korea has the virus situation under control thanks to its preemptive quarantine efforts and active participation by the citizens, according to t

July 6, 2020

S. Korea's first military satellite could be launched next week: reports

South Korea's first military communications satellite could be launched into space next week, US-based websites on space launch schedules showed Monday. The Anasis-II satellite could lift off from Florida on a Falcon 9 Block 5 rocket by US-based commercial space firm SpaceX on around July 14 (US time), though the schedule is subject to change, according to Spaceflight Now, a news outlet specializing in space and aviation. It earlier reported that the launch could take place around the second

July 6, 2020

Pentagon lifts travel restrictions on 6 US bases in Korea

The US Department of Defense has lifted travel restrictions on six military bases in South Korea following a review of COVID-19 trends in the country. According to a Thursday press release, the six bases met the criteria for lifting travel restrictions as of June 29. The installations are Camp Casey, Camp Henry and Camp Humphreys, as well as the bases in Yongsan, Gunsan and Osan. In total, restrictions have been lifted for 70 of 231 installations in the US and worldwide with more than 1,000 D

July 4, 2020

5 Americans affiliated with USFK confirmed with coronavirus

F Five US citizens affiliated with the US Forces Korea (USFK), including two service members, tested positive for the new coronavirus, the US military said Saturday. The latest COVID-19 cases brought the total number of infections among the USFK population to 47. Two dependents of a USFK service member arrived at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, from Europe on June 21 and were moved to Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul, where they tested negative for

July 4, 2020

S. Korea, Washington mull canceling joint military drills: sources

South Korea and the United States are considering calling off their joint military exercises in August, held twice annually in March and August, due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, a local report said Friday citing Seoul officials. The two sides were reportedly mulling three options: canceling the drills, scaling them back or forging ahead. The officials said the government at the moment was taking preparations on the assumption that the Combined Forces Command between Seoul and Was

July 3, 2020

USFK chopper makes emergency landing, no injuries reported

A helicopter operated by the US Forces Korea made a precautionary landing shortly after take-off from central Seoul on Thursday due to suspected engine problems, officials said. The UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter with five people aboard lifted off from Seoul's Yongsan Garrison and was heading toward the large American base in Pyeongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of the capital city, when unusual signs were detected at around 3:50 p.m., according to local police. Confirming the incident, USFK sai

July 2, 2020

Two USFK coronavirus patients briefly released from quarantine due to administrative error

Two American service members had been briefly released from quarantine even though they tested positive for the new coronavirus because their test results were recorded as negative due to an administrative error, the US Forces Korea said Thursday. The two service members arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, just south of Seoul, on a US government-chartered flight on June 17, and they were moved to separate places in Osan, as they tested negative for the first test and entered quarantine.

July 2, 2020

US commander reaffirms smooth handover of wartime role

The United States remains dedicated to a successful handover of the wartime operational control to South Korea, said Gen. Robert Abrams, who holds dual roles of commander of the US military here and the Combined Forces Command between Seoul and Washington. “The United States is firmly committed to the successful execution of this alliance plan that will ultimately result in a Republic of Korea four-star leading the Combined Forces Command,” the four-star general said at a defense fo

July 1, 2020

Conscientious objectors file for alternative service

South Korea’s military on Tuesday opened applications for alternative military service to conscientious objectors. The move is in line with the Constitutional Court’s landmark ruling in June 2018 that objectors be given noncombat ways to fulfill their mandatory national service. Applicants who pass a series of fitness tests organized by the Defense Ministry and other expert groups will start their active duty as early as October as workers in correctional centers carrying out day-t

June 30, 2020

Air Force to procure 20 upgraded homegrown trainer jets

The state-run arms procurement agency has signed a deal to procure 20 new homegrown trainer jets for the Air Force, officials said Monday. Under the 688.3 billion-won ($573.34 million) deal, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) will supply 20 TA-50 Block-2 aircraft, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said. They will be deployed by 2024, the agency added. TA-50 Block-2 is an upgraded version of KAI's T-50 trainer jet, which is now in service. The new planes will replace KF-16 fi

June 29, 2020

S. Korea readies wartime command takeover

South Korea’s Defense Ministry convened the first of this year’s two meetings on preparations for the transfer of its wartime operational control from the United States, scheduled to be completed by 2022, the ministry said Monday. “The transfer of the wartime operational control will bolster our defense readiness,” Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said, urging the military to be fully prepared for a successful handover. The meeting, attended by the defense minister, th

June 29, 2020

S. Korea, US closely working for OPCON transfer: Defense Ministry

South Korea and the United States are closely coordinating for the planned transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean forces from Washington to Seoul, the defense ministry said Monday. After holding a meeting presided over by Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo to review this year's progress regarding the OPCON transfer, the ministry said the two countries have continued preparations to assess Seoul's capabilities to retake OPCON and to maintain a firm readiness posture desp

June 29, 2020