Korea, US mark return of remains of 2 soldiers killed during Korean War

South Korea and the United States on Friday held a ceremony marking the return of the remains of two soldiers -- one Korean and the other American -- killed during the 1950-53 Korean War.The event took place at the Seoul National Cemetery in southern Seoul to honor the sacrifices of the South Korean soldier, Yun Kyung-hyeok, and an unidentified US serviceman whose remains were retrieved in the North and South, respectively, through bilateral cooperation."There is significant meaning as the remai

July 13, 2018

S. Korea has no plans for arms reduction, for now: defense chief

South Korea has no plans to discuss arms reduction with North Korea until the country has made progress on denuclearization, Seoul’s defense minister said Thursday, placing priority on building trust amid persistent doubt over Pyongyang’s denuclearization pledge.During a meeting with reporters, Defense Minister Song Young-moo said confidence-building measures will begin with basic processes -- such as reconnecting military communication lines and disarming the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zon

July 12, 2018

US expert voices concern about future of US troops in Korea

WASHINGTON -- An American expert on Asia voiced concern Wednesday that US President Donald Trump appears to be serious about wanting to pull US troops from South Korea.Michael Green, senior vice president for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said he believes Trump meant it when he told reporters after last month's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that he would eventually like to get the troops out."That's a Christmas present in June for the North Koreans, Ch

July 12, 2018

Defense ministry seeks to enact special law for political neutrality

Defense Ministry said Wednesday it is seeking to enact a special law for ensuring the military’s political neutrality amid the allegation the Defense Security Command considered imposing martial law during massive protests against former President Park Geun-hye last year. “Currently, the Ministry of National Defense is seeking to enact a special law to make sure the military stay neutral in political affairs,” said a senior defense official during the meeting with reporters. The special law is e

July 11, 2018

Concern mounts over delayed repatriation of US war remains

With North Korean and US delegates scheduled to meet Thursday to negotiate the return of US war remains from the Korean War, the focus is now on whether the two sides can make progress on the issue. During their first summit last month in Singapore, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump committed to recovering US war remains, including the “immediate repatriation of those already identified.” North Korea holds about 200 sets of remains from among the some 5,300 US militar

July 11, 2018

Defense chief pledges thorough probe into martial law allegation

　Defense Minister Song Young-moo on Tuesday vowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the allegation that the Defense Security Command drew up a plan to impose martial law during massive protests against former President Park Geun-hye. 　In a televised press briefing, Song Young-moo said the ministry will soon establish an independent investigation panel, noting the investigators will have unfettered authority to find any wrongdoings of the Defense Security Command. 　“Until the investigation

July 10, 2018

Defense minister sparks controversy over remarks on women

Defense Minister Song Young-moo on Monday found himself in hot water over his remarks that women should conduct themselves in a “cautious manner.”During a meeting with civilian advisers on sexual assault in the military, Song said that women should be conscious about their behavior as he discussed the military’s measures to prevent sexual assault during after-hours office gatherings.“I saw my wife educating my daughter in detail about riding a taxi and dating a guy. Then I said to my wife, ‘Why

July 10, 2018

South Korea suspends annual defense drill

South Korea on Tuesday announced the suspension of the annual government mobilization Ulchi exercise this year, following the suspension of the combined military drill Freedom Guardian with the US last month. 　The Defense Ministry and Interior Ministry said the Ulchi exercise will be incorporated with the command-post Taeguk military exercise next year. This year’s Taeguk command exercises will take place in late October in tandem with the Hoguk field training exercise, the ministries added.   　

July 10, 2018

Moon orders special probe into martial law allegations

President Moon Jae-in has ordered an independent probe into the Defense Security Command drawing up plans for martial law during the protests against Park Geun-hye administration, Cheong Wa Dae Tuesday. “The independent investigation team will be made up of non-Army, non-DSC military prosecutors. The team will not be commanded by the defense minister, and will conduct the investigation independently,” Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said. Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom announces Pre

July 10, 2018

Cost of one of those 'expensive' US-S. Korea military exercises? $14 mln

A joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea scrapped after President Donald Trump griped about "tremendously expensive" military drills would have cost around $14 million, US officials told Reuters on Friday.The Pentagon announced last month that it was indefinitely suspending the Freedom Guardian military exercise in support of the Singapore summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.Trump repeatedly touted the cost savings that would come with his decision

July 9, 2018

Army likely to delay plans to launch special command amid improving ties with North

The Army is on course to delay its plans to launch a new military command body, initially designed to cope with North Korea's growing military threats, as inter-Korean relations show signs of an upturn, government sources said Sunday.The Army had been moving to integrate its First and Third Command bodies to launch a single ground operation command by October under a five-year defense reinforcement scheme.  (Yonhap)Defense Minister Song Young-moo, however, has recently ordered a reconsideration

July 8, 2018

Enlistment deferred for conscientious objectors

The Military Manpower Administration said on Thursday that enlistment will be deferred for conscientious objectors who refuse the mandatory military service until they are legally able to perform alternative civilian services.The Constitutional Court ruled last week that a clause of the Military Service Act which does not recognize alternative service as a substitute for conscription is unconstitutional. The MMA said it has decided, in acceptance of the ruling, to postpone the enlistment of cons

July 5, 2018

Military recommends Cheong Wa Dae lease new presidential jet

South Korea's defense ministry has recommended the presidential office lease a new plane for presidential overseas trips, an official said Thursday.Cheong Wa Dae has used a modified Boeing 747-400 airliner leased from Korean Air under a 2014 deal worth 142.1 billion won ($127.2 million).The five-year contract is to expire in March 2020. (Yonhap)"(We) made a suggestion to the National Security Office and the Presidential Security Service that (Cheong Wa Dae) replace the aged jet with a new one,"

July 5, 2018

[Newsmaker] US forces in S. Korea given breathing space to explore future roles

More than six decades ago when its headquarters was ensconced in central Seoul, the US Forces Korea faced the grim reality of a war-ravaged South Korea gripped by fears of communist expansion at the height of the Cold War.At present, however, the once impoverished ally is anything but weak. It boasts a well-equipped military, vibrant democracy and extensive diplomatic networks, not to mention economic wealth, on which the USFK relies for the upkeep of its 28,500 troops.Such a transformation, cou

July 3, 2018

[Newsmaker] Constitutional Court’s ruling on alternative service prompts debates over homosexuality in military

　With the Constitutional Court for the first time urging the military to allow alternative service for conscientious objectors, the focus is now on whether the court would overturn its previous rulings that ban homosexuality in the military. 　According to legal experts and human right activists, Incheon district court has filed a motion with the Constitutional Court for a ruling on whether the current military criminal law violates the constitutional right to protecting sexual minorities.  　The

July 2, 2018

Korean military puts off reconstruction work for frontline military bases

The South Korean military has put on hold reconstruction plans for army bases located in frontline areas within 5-10 kilometers of the Demilitarized Zone, government officials said Sunday."We have put off new building plans for some 90-100 army units categorized as Alpha in the Forward Edge of Battle Area," a government official familiar with the matter said. The FEBA has four categories -- Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta -- and Alpha is the nearest to the DMZ and within the Civilian Control Lin

July 1, 2018

US Forces Korea opens new headquarters in Pyeongtaek

PYEONGTAEK, Gyeonggi Province -- The US Forces Korea opened its new headquarters in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, on Friday, in a relocation project likely to broaden its security role long defined by deterrence against North Korea.The USFK held a ceremony to celebrate the relocation from Yongsan, central Seoul, to Camp Humphreys, a sprawling complex about 70 kilometers south of the capital, after a delay caused by residents' protests, budgetary issues and massive construction work to prevent floo

June 29, 2018

Building trust with NK continues as long as dialogue underway ‘in good faith’ : defense chiefs

The defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States agreed on Thursday that they will continue to seek trust-building measures with North Korea for as long as Pyongyang engages in dialogue “in good faith.” 　During their meeting in Seoul, Defense Minister Song Young-moo and his US counterpart James Mattis stressed that their decision to suspend scheduled joint military exercises will support diplomatic efforts to achieve the complete denuclearization of North Korea. 　Having visited Seoul as a

June 28, 2018

S. Korea rejects US’ renewed demand over cost sharing for strategic assets: official

South Korea has rejected a renewed demand from the United States for sharing the costs of deploying its strategic assets on and around the Korean Peninsula, a ministry official said Thursday.The US made the demand during its fourth round of the 10th Special Measures Agreement talks with South Korea earlier this week on sharing the cost of stationing US troops here.In previous talks, Washington requested that Seoul share the costs stemming from strategic assets deployment. Seoul rejected the requ

June 28, 2018

USFK chief stresses S. Korean army's capabilities to both fight and keep discipline

The chief of US Forces Korea made an implicit call on Thursday for the South Korean Army to continue to remain capable of not only fighting and winning, but also keeping "discipline" amid the emergent peace mood.Gen. Vincent Brooks made the remarks amid the efforts by Seoul and Washington to facilitate dialogue with Pyongyang over the communist state's denuclearization through a set of de-escalatory steps, including the indefinite suspension of their combined military exercises."I am very proud

June 28, 2018