S. Korean Special Forces in UAE a ‘trip wire’ in Yemini civil war: lawmaker

A South Korean Special Forces unit dispatched to the United Arab Emirates has become a “trip wire” in the ongoing Yemeni civil war, an opposition lawmaker said, calling for the unit’s immediate withdrawal from the region. In an interview with Yonhap News Agency on Thursday, Rep. Kim Jong-dae of the minor Justice Party said that the 150-member Akh Unit could automatically be drawn into the UAE’s fight against rebel forces in Yemen.The UAE has joined Saudi Arabia-led military campaigns against Hou

Sept. 6, 2018

Japanese warships carrying controversial flag to join next month's Jeju fleet review

Several Japanese warships carrying a controversial flag symbolic of its past imperialism are expected to join an international fleet review slated to take place on South Korea's southern island of Jeju next month, a military source in Seoul said Thursday.The display of Japan's Rising Sun flag is likely to inflame the public sentiment in South Korea, where historical animosity over the wrongdoings of the country's onetime colonizer, still runs deep. Japan colonized the peninsula from 1910-45.  (A

Sept. 6, 2018

Military exemption: performance booster or unfair privilege?

When the Korean national soccer team won the gold medal at the Asian Games on Sunday, English Premier League star Son Hong-min, along with 20 of his teammates, received exemptions from mandatory military service. 　The hard-won victory over archrival Japan would typically have been a sweet moment for South Korea, but there was bitter sentiment this time that was openly expressed. The resentment stems from exemptions from military service granted to the soccer players for “raising national prestig

Sept. 4, 2018

Arrest warrant sought against two-star general for alleged surveillance of civilians

A military probe team investigating wrongdoings of the now-disbanded security command sought an arrest warrant Tuesday for a two-star general over the alleged surveillance of civilians years ago.The team suspects that Maj. Gen. So Gang-won, who served as the chief of staff of the Defense Security Command, was actively involved in monitoring the bereaved families of victims of a 2014 ferry disaster.It cited flight risk and the possibility of So destroying evidence. Maj. Gen. So Gang-won (Yonhap)I

Sept. 4, 2018

Defense ministry launches advisory panel on gender equality

The defense ministry on Monday launched an advisory panel on gender equality in the military following a series of sexual abuse scandals involving senior uniformed officers.The 15-member panel, including nine civilian experts, held its first session at the ministry's building in central Seoul. The panel includes Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk and Korea Sexual Violence Relief Center chairwoman Lee Mi-kyung. (Yonhap)"The defense ministry will work to help remove unreasonable discrimination aga

Sept. 3, 2018

Military clips intelligence unit‘s power to surveil service members

Since its establishment in 1950, the Defense Security Command had exercised enormous power over military affairs. At the heart of this lay its authority to monitor military personnel, keep their records and report them to their superiors. Sometimes it was involved in one-on-one briefings to presidents. 　But such authority will mostly be banned under regulations governing the newly minted Defense Security Support Command. The new unit was officially launched Saturday to replace the scandal-ridden

Sept. 3, 2018

Korea to strengthen defense against drone attacks

South Korea will strengthen measures to guard against terrorist attacks involving drones, as such small unmanned aircraft have been increasingly used in terror acts around the world, officials said Monday.Concerns about drone attacks flared anew following an apparent assassination attempt on Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro early last month, in which two explosive-carrying drones went off during a military ceremony.On Monday, officials from terror-related ministries and agencies, such as the

Sept. 3, 2018

Govt. to review military service exemption system amid controversy

The military manpower agency will conduct a full review of the active-duty military service exemption system, its chief said Monday, amid controversy over dozens of athletes benefiting due to their wins in the latest Asian Games in Indonesia.Calls have persisted for an overhaul of the decades-old system to ensure fairness and transparency, particularly at a time when the country is seeking to cope with a potential shortage of draftees likely to be caused by the nation's low birthrate.  (Yonhap)"

Sept. 3, 2018

S. Korea develops advanced heat-seeking missile countermeasure

South Korea has developed an advanced infrared missile countermeasure that can better protect aircraft from attacks, the government said Sunday.The Defense Acquisition Programs Administration (DAPA) said it teamed up with local defense contractor Hanwha Systems to build the directional infrared countermeasure (DIRCM). The country is the sixth in the world to develop this type of defense system, which can effectively hinder a heat-seeking missile as it attempts to lock on to an airborne target li

Sept. 2, 2018

New intel unit bans monitoring military personnel, installs whistleblowing system

The newly minted security intelligence unit will be banned from monitoring military personnel and keeping their records, and install a whistleblowing system as part of efforts to ensure its political neutrality, officials said Sunday.The Defense Security Support Command was launched Saturday after its predecessor, the Defense Security Command, was disbanded last month following a series of political allegations, including its consideration of martial law to quell anti-government protests in 2017

Sept. 2, 2018

S. Korea's military launches new security command

South Korea created a new military security command Saturday that replaces a scandal-prone unit.The military held a launch ceremony for the Defense Security Support Command (DSSC) at its headquarters in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul. It was hosted by Defense Minister Song Young-moon.The command is tasked with collecting security-related intelligence and countering anti-state activities. Lt. Gen. Nam Young-sin, a former special forces commander, has been named its first leader. (Yonhap)Its predec

Sept. 1, 2018

Korea, Russia agree to install air force communication line

South Korea and Russia have agreed to install a direct communication line between their air forces, Seoul's defense ministry said Thursday, raising hopes that it will help prevent the latter's violation of the Korea air defense identification zone.Seoul's Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk reached the agreement with his Russia counterpart Alexander Fomin during their strategic dialogue in Moscow on Tuesday (Moscow time).Last month, two Russian military planes violated the KADIZ four times and fl

Aug. 30, 2018

Moon adviser says end-of-war declaration won't lead to pullout of US troops

WASHINGTON -- President Moon Jae-in's security adviser said Wednesday that a declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War would have nothing to do with the South Korea-US alliance or the presence of American troops here.Moon Chung-in, a special advisor for unification, diplomacy and national security affairs for President Moon Jae-in, made the remark in a meeting with Yonhap News Agency in Washington, apparently seeking to dispel concerns that an end-of-war declaration would eventually lead to a pu

Aug. 30, 2018

[Graphic News] S. Korea seeks to increase defense budget 8.2% next year

　The South Korea government announced that it will raise its defense budget 8.2 percent on-year in 2019, the largest expansion since 2008.　The Ministry of National Defense said it has proposed a budget of 46.7 trillion won ($42 billion) for next year. 　Of the total, the ministry plans to spend 15.3 trillion won on boosting defense capabilities, an increase of 13.7 percent from the previous year, while setting aside 31.3 trillion won for running military forces, an on-year growth of 5.7 percent.

Aug. 29, 2018

Chinese military jet enters Korea air defense zone

South Korea scrambled Air Force jets Wednesday to counter a Chinese military plane flying in the country's air defense domain without notice, defense authorities in Seoul said.It entered the Korea air defense identification zone at around 7:37 a.m. and moved over southern and eastern waters for about four hours, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  (Yonhap)"(We) took normal tactical measures," such as sending a warning message and dispatching Air Force jets to track and monitor it, the JCS a

Aug. 29, 2018

Resumption of joint military drills with US subject to discussion: Seoul

Resumption or suspension of joint military drills between South Korea and the United States is subject to discussions between the allies, an official from Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday."As of now, the issue has not been discussed between South Korea and the United States," Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom told a daily press briefing.The remarks came hours after US Secretary of Defense James Mattis said his country had no plans to suspend any more military drills w

Aug. 29, 2018

US ends suspension of military drills amid N. Korea tensions

WASHINGTON (AFP) -- The United States will end its suspension of military drills on the Korean peninsula, a move that had been decided as a “good faith” measure following President Donald Trump‘s summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the Pentagon said Tuesday.“We took the step to suspend several of the largest military exercises as a good faith measure,” Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters. “We have no plans to suspend any more.”Mattis, however, did not give any indication that ex

Aug. 29, 2018

New US 7th Air Force chief vows to keep 'unequaled' military readiness

OSAN Air Base -- New US 7th Air Force Commander Lt. Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach vowed Monday to keep "unequaled" military readiness to back up ongoing peace efforts with North Korea, as he took the helm of the South Korea-based unit.During his change-of-responsibility ceremony in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, the commander noted the importance of the South Korea-US alliance, calling it "born out of strategic significance and mutual respect.""The strength of the Republic of Korea-US alli

Aug. 27, 2018

S. Korea decides to prolong intel-sharing deal with Japan

South Korea has decided to prolong its military intelligence sharing deal with Japan for one more year to bolster cooperation in seeking North Korea's denuclearization and regional peace, the defense ministry said Wednesday. (Herald DB)The two countries signed the pact, called the General Security of Military Information Agreement, in November 2016. The deal is automatically prolonged if neither side chooses to end it by 90 days before the end of a one-year period. "Our stance is to keep the agr

Aug. 22, 2018

USFK chief calls on N. Korea to take ‘earnest, serious’ steps to denuclearize

US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Vincent Brooks called on North Korea on Wednesday to take “earnest and serious” steps toward denuclearization, citing distrust and misconception as major hurdles to ongoing peace efforts.During a press conference, Brooks also pointed out the need for continued international pressure on the communist regime to ensure it follows through on its avowed commitment to the complete denuclearization of the peninsula.“We still have to see earnest actions being taken on thos

Aug. 22, 2018