Japan takes exception to S. Korean action following radar talks: reports

TOKYO (Yonhap) -- Japan has taken exception to South Korea's action following the two sides' recent talks on the ongoing military radar row, reports claimed Wednesday.Kyodo News said the Japanese defense ministry was up in arms about South Korea's announcement of incorrect information about the spat earlier this week. Images from the vidoe released by Seoul`s Ministry of National Defense. YonhapThe two countries met in Singapore on Monday with the goal of narrowing their differences on the situa

Jan. 16, 2019

Seoul, Tokyo lock horns over sharing of frequency data in radar spat

The ongoing radar spat between South Korea and Japan is deepening, with the two sides clashing over the matter of sharing the frequency of the radar signal that Tokyo claims to have detected. Japan insists that a South Korean Navy destroyer locked its weapons-targeting radar onto a Japanese warplane during a recent search and rescue operation, but South Korea denies the allegation.The Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday that it had asked Tokyo to reveal the frequency of the radar that it

Jan. 16, 2019

S. Korea, US expected to finalize military exercise plan this month

South Korea and the United States are expected to decide by the end of this month how to proceed with joint military exercises amid ongoing nuclear negotiations with North Korea.The allies have suspended several exercises since the June summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to help advance talks on dismantling the North's nuclear weapons program.(Yonhap)Pyongyang condemns the drills as an invasion rehearsal against the regime despite assurances from Seoul a

Jan. 16, 2019

Defense white paper fudges on whether NK is 'enemy'

The Defense Ministry does not directly refer to North Korea as an enemy and takes a less hostile tone toward the communist state in its 23rd white paper published Tuesday. The ministry’s latest biennial white paper -- the first to be published since the Moon Jae-in administration came to power in 2017 -- addresses security threats, military policies and the regional security environment.  (Yonhap)Perhaps most notably, the Defense Ministry eliminated the phrase specifically describing North Korea

Jan. 15, 2019

S. Korea, US expected to seek high-level talks on defense cost

South Korea and the United States are expected to seek high-level talks to renew a cost-sharing agreement for American troops stationed in the South, after 10th rounds of talks with their chief negotiators failed to reach a deal, a South Korean government official has said.  Seoul and Washington have held a series of talks since March last year over how much of the cost South Korea should bear for the stationing of 28,500 troops of US Forces Korea.(Yonhap)US President Donald Trump has called for

Jan. 11, 2019

Minister expects new Army command to play key role in allied combat readiness

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said Wednesday that the country's new hub Army command will have to play a key role in the future alliance with the United States.Speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Ground Operation Command, he said it needs to spearhead "all joint and combined operations" on the ground. The ceremony was held at the unit's headquarters in Yongin, just south of Seoul. (Yonhap)The GOC leads seven regional corps and one expeditionary corps, as well as a lo

Jan. 9, 2019

Korea hits back with its own video clip over radar spat

South Korea on Friday released its own video clip to repudiate Japan's claims over an escalating spat involving military radar, renewing calls for Tokyo to stop distorting facts and apologize over the incident.Seoul's defense ministry posted the video clip on YouTube, a week after Tokyo released its own footage to back up the claim that a South Korean warship had locked fire-control radar on its maritime patrol aircraft on Dec. 20.(ROK Ministry of National Defense YouTube)In the clip, the minist

Jan. 4, 2019

Defense Ministry to release video to counter Tokyo’s accusation in radar row

Seoul’s Defense Ministry is preparing to release a video clip to counter Tokyo’s accusation that a Korean Naval destroyer had locked its weapons-targeting radar onto a Japanese warplane last month, amid an escalating dispute over the incident.The move comes after Japan released footage filmed by its patrol aircraft in an effort to back its claim. The Ministry of National Defense has expressed regret over Japan’s disclosure of the footage, calling it “misleading.”  Ministry of National Defense sp

Jan. 3, 2019

OPCON transfer will not lead to withdrawal of US troops: minister

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo reiterated Tuesday that the transfer of wartime operational control would not lead to the withdrawal of the US forces stationed in the country, or the dissolution of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command. Responding to a question during a local TV show, Jeong reiterated that the planned transfer of OPCON would not affect the allies’ current combined defense posture, over which conservatives here have often raised concern. Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo (Yonhap)“

Jan. 2, 2019

Female Air Force officer groomed to be 'test pilot'

South Korea's Air Force said Wednesday it has launched a monthslong training program for the country's first prospective female test pilot, another sign of cracks opening in the military's glass ceiling.Capt. Jung Da-jung began 46 weeks of training at the 281st Flight Test Squadron of the 52nd Test and Evaluation Group earlier in the day to join the elite group of pilots tasked with flying and evaluating newly produced aircraft. Jung will soon be promoted to major. Jung Da-jung (Yonhap)Since the

Jan. 2, 2019

[Newsmaker] Kim Jong-un calls for 'complete halt' to US-S. Korea joint military exercises

　North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un on Tuesday urged South Korea to “completely halt” military exercises with the United States, a move that analysts see as a way of increasing pressure on Seoul and Washington to make reciprocal gestures in response to the North’s moratorium on nuclear and missile tests. 　In his New Year’s address, Kim demanded that the South Korean government stop holding combined military drills and accepting US strategic assets, describing these actions as sources of tension on

Jan. 1, 2019

Defense ministry appoints ex-Air Force major general as policy chief

South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said Monday that it will appoint a retired Air Force major general as its new deputy minister for policy this week.On Tuesday, Chung Suk-hwan will take over from Yeo Suk-joo, who left the ministry last week after a year of service."We believe that (Chung Suk-hwan) can respond smoothly to the change in the security environment given that he has expertise in defense and foreign policy, and knowledge about key security issues," the ministry said in a press

Dec. 31, 2018

Conscientious objectors to serve at correctional facilities for 36 months

The government has finalized plans for alternative service for conscientious objectors, but controversy over the matter looks likely to continue. On Friday, the Ministry of National Defense announced plans to introduce 36 months of service at correctional facilities for conscientious objectors who refuse to serve in the military. The measure was drawn up as the country’s top court has recognized conscientious objection as a valid reason for rejecting mandatory military service.According to the M

Dec. 30, 2018

Korea voices 'deep concern, regrets' about Japan's footage release amid radar spat

South Korea's defense ministry expressed "deep concerns and regrets" Friday over Japan's release of video footage related to an ongoing military radar spat, accusing Tokyo of releasing inaccurate facts. (Yonhap)(Yonhap)

Dec. 28, 2018

Chinese military plane enters S. Korea's air defense zone

A Chinese military jet entered South Korea's air defense zone without notice three times on Thursday, prompting Seoul's Air Force to scramble fighter jets in response, defense authorities here said.The aircraft entered the country's air defense identification zone, called KADIZ, at around 10:21 a.m. from an area near Jeju Island and Ieo Island and exited it half an hour later, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). It again crossed into the KADIZ at around 11:54 a.m. and flew out of the z

Dec. 27, 2018

[Newsmaker] Military plans to ease restrictions on soldiers’ off-base activities, cellphone use

South Korea’s conscripted soldiers will soon be allowed to go off base and to use cellphones in barracks after working hours, the country’s military said Thursday, as part of efforts to improve basic rights for rank-and-file soldiers. 　The Ministry of National Defense also said that starting next year, the military will ease restrictions on vacation destinations for soldiers, who have been prohibited from going to places deemed too far for them to return to the barracks on time. 　Every Korean ab

Dec. 27, 2018

Korea-US defense cost-sharing talks 'back to square one': sources

South Korean and US officials had significantly narrowed differences in recent negotiations over how to share the upkeep costs for American troops stationed here, but the working-level progress fell apart as the US leadership rejected it, sources said Tuesday.Seoul and Washington have held a series of talks since March over how much financial cost South Korea should bear for 28,500 troops of US Forces Korea amid US President Donald Trump's call for a sharp rise in Seoul's share.Earlier this mont

Dec. 25, 2018

Korea's military rejects claim of targeting Japanese patrol aircraft

South Korea's Navy warship used an optical camera to identify an approaching Japanese patrol aircraft last week, military sources said Sunday, rejecting Tokyo's claim that it had directed its fire-control radar at the plane.The sources also said that the warship's tracking radar system was in operation while the camera was on, but it did not send out any radar beam directly toward the Maritime Self-Defense Force's P-1 patrol aircraft. (Yonhap)Diplomatic tensions spiked after Japan claimed that t

Dec. 23, 2018

N. Korea criticizes Japan for conducting test of US-Japan interceptor

North Korea's state media on Saturday criticized Japan for conducting a test of a new missile interceptor system, which is being co-funded by the United States and Japan, arguing that the move could chill the "peace atmosphere" on the Korean Peninsula. The US and Japan have jointly developed the SM-3 Block IIA interceptor, and they successfully conducted a test of the new interceptor in Hawaii earlier this month. (Yonhap)In an English-language commentary, the North's Korean Central News Agency s

Dec. 23, 2018

S. Korean Navy dismisses Tokyo's claim about targeting of Japanese patrol aircraft

The Navy on Friday dismissed Japan's claim that a South Korean warship directed fire-control radar at Tokyo's patrol aircraft a day earlier, saying the neighboring country misunderstood its operation to help a North Korean ship drifting near a sea border.Japan's Kyodo News reported that Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya said the South Korean vessel targeted the Maritime Self-Defense Force's P-1 patrol aircraft and that Tokyo lodged a protest with Seoul.Japanese helicopter carrier Izumo (AP

Dec. 22, 2018