[Newsmaker] THAAD deployment to be completed as early as next week

South Korea is poised to complete the installment of a US missile shield next week, officials said Friday, despite unabated controversy over the Moon Jae-in government’s flip-flopping on the timing of the deployment. The stationing of the remaining four launchers of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system comes as the Environment Ministry wraps up a small-scale environmental review. The equipment will join the already operational two launchers, radar and other assets to form a full-fledge

Aug. 25, 2017

Korea replaces military intelligence chief amid calls for reform

South Korea named a two-star Army general to head the Defense Security Command (DSC) on Friday amid public calls for the reform of the key organization for military investigation and intelligence. Maj. Gen. Lee Suk-koo (Yonhap)The Ministry of National Defense said it has picked Maj. Gen. Lee Suk-koo, who is in charge of operation planning at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as acting leader of the command.He will be officially appointed to replace Lt. Gen. Cho Hyun-chun after being promoted to the ran

Aug. 25, 2017

Korea's military seeks five indigenous spy satellites by 2023

South Korea's military said Friday it will soon begin a full-fledged project to put five indigenous reconnaissance satellites into operation by 2023.The implementation of the ambitious program, worth about 1 trillion won ($880 million), has been delayed for more than four years amid conflict among the defense ministry, the science ministry and the National Intelligence Service over the details of the development and operation. (Yonhap)Under the decision made at the defense program committee, cha

Aug. 25, 2017

Results of environmental assessment for THAAD launchers due out next week: presidential aide

The results of an environmental impact assessment required for the temporary deployment of additional US missile interceptor launchers will be released next week, a presidential aide said Friday, raising the prospects of their earlier-than-expected installation.The Ministry of National Defense has been conducting the assessment that President Moon Jae-in views as a legitimate domestic procedure for hosting a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system aimed at countering North Korea's escalating

Aug. 25, 2017

Temporary deployment of 4 more THAAD launchers expected to be completed in near future: security advisor

President Moon Jae-in's top security advisor said Thursday that the temporary deployment of four additional launchers of a US missile defense system is expected to be completed "in the near future."Chung Eui-yong, the chief of the National Security Office, made the remarks during a parliamentary budget committee session in response to a question over whether the deployment can be completed within the year."(We) anticipate that the deployment of four additional launchers will be completed in the

Aug. 25, 2017

Russian bombers intrude into Korea's air defense zone

Russia's strategic bombers briefly violated South Korea's air defense identification zone on Wednesday, prompting the country's fighter jets to scramble to a nearby area, an official said."As the Russian aircraft entered the KADIZ in formation yesterday morning, a squadron of our Air Force jets made an emergency sorties," said the official who requested anonymity on Thursday.The Russian planes, however, did not intrude into South Korea's aerospace, he added. A Tu-95MS Russian strategic bomber. (

Aug. 24, 2017

Remains of ex-commandos from 684 unit enshrined

The Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday observed a memorial service to enshrine the remains of 20 former South Korean commandos who were trained to infiltrate North Korea but instead killed themselves in revolt against the government decades ago.At the ceremony held at an Army facility in Byeokje near Seoul, the soldiers' families and military officials paid tribute in front of urns containing the remains of the 20 former agents and memorial tablets for two others whose remains have not be

Aug. 23, 2017

Remains found on US warship that collided off Singapore: US Navy

Divers searching for 10 missing sailors on a US destroyer that collided with a tanker off Singapore have found human remains, the commander of the US Pacific Fleet said Tuesday.   The US Navy has announced a fleet-wide global investigation following the latest deadly warship collision, the second in two months.   "The divers were able to locate some remains in those sealed compartments during their search today," Admiral Scott Swift told reporters, referring to a search by divers of compartments

Aug. 22, 2017

Army stages anti-terror exercise in UFG

South Korea's Army conducted a massive counterterrorism training in a southern city Tuesday as part of the country's annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian joint military drills with the United States.The Army said more than 350 elite troops and 15 choppers, including KUH-1, CH-47 and UH-60, were mobilized in the practice hosted by the 2nd Operational Command based in Daegu. A rapid response team enters the site of a simulated terror attack at the World Cup stadium in Daegu, a southern city in South Kore

Aug. 22, 2017

Controversy re-emerges over reliability of Korean howitzer

The explosion of a self-propelled howitzer that killed South Korean soldiers last week has sparked controversy over the reliability of the weapon system designed to counter North Korea’s long-range artillery units across the border. 　Two South Korean soldiers were killed and five injured in an explosion inside a K-9 Thunder during artillery training Friday in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province. The training was designed to improve the accuracy of counter-artillery attacks in the event of a war with Nort

Aug. 21, 2017

S. Korea, US begin military drills amid N. Korea's threats

The South Korean and US militaries on Monday started their first major combined training since North Korea's test-firing of two long-range missiles and threat to shoot ballistic missiles toward Guam.The Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise will run through next Thursday, focusing on a "tailored joint deterrence strategy" based on the Operational Plan 5015 of the Combined Forces Command, officials said.In an unusual gesture, three top US military commanders -- Pacific Command chief Adm. Harry Harris,

Aug. 21, 2017

US, Korea kick off military drills amid tensions on peninsula

Military tensions are expected to come to a critical juncture on the Korean Peninsula this week, with South Korea and the United Sates beginning Monday their annual military exercise in the wake of a standoff between Washington and Pyongyang over the latter’s threat to launch missiles toward the US island of Guam.　The Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise, a computer-based military drill, is to kick off with some 50,000 South Korean and 17,500 US troops participating to simulate a war with North Korea

Aug. 20, 2017

S. Korean Marines hold exercises for eastern island defense

South Korean Marines have started their largest-ever training to defend the eastern island of Ulleungdo, the Marine Corps said Sunday. Ulleungdo, some 120 kilometers off the eastern coast, is located near Dokdo, a set of rocky islets owned by Seoul but claimed by Tokyo. It is the country's eighth-largest island with a population of 10,000. More than 90 Marines are participating in the monthlong drills that kicked off last Friday. South Korean Marines head to Ulleung Island for their biggest-ever

Aug. 20, 2017

S. Korea approves plan to upgrade K-9 howitzer

(Yonhap)South Korea's military procurement agency on Friday approved a plan to upgrade an indigenous howitzer used by ground and marine forces.    The approval by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) allows the mass production of an upgraded K-9 Thunder 155mm self-propelled howitzer from next year, according to the agency.   The project aims to improve the automatic fire control system, location system and periscope component of the howitzer which has been in use since 1999.    

Aug. 18, 2017

One soldier killed, six injured in blast during artillery drill

One Army solider was killed and six others were injured Friday in an explosion during an artillery firing drill, the military said.The blast occurred at an Army shooting range in the border town of Cherwon at 3:00 p.m. (Yonhap)Seven servicemen were taken to a hospital and one died during treatment, an Army officer said."An unidentified explosion took place during the drill, injuring some people," said an official at the Army.A probe into what caused the accident is underway, he added. The firing

Aug. 18, 2017

JCS chief nominee says no plan to scale back Korea-US military drill

South Korea has no plans to reduce the scale of an annual joint military exercise with the United States or demand the withdrawal of US troops stationed on the Korean Peninsula, the man set to become Seoul’s chief of Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday. 　The Ministry of National Defense announced later in the day that the annual Korea-US Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise will take place between Aug. 21 and 31. The command post drill will be played out on a similar scale to that of last year, when 50

Aug. 18, 2017

Allies to conduct military drills similar to last year‘s: military

South Korea's military said Friday that Seoul and Washington will stage joint military drills starting next week at a similar level to those last year, despite North Korea's warning of a "catastrophe" over the exercises.The allies' Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises will kick off Monday and run until Aug. 31. North Korea has long denounced the drills as war rehearsal for a northern invasion. It is a computerized command post exercise without field maneuvers."This year's military drills will be sim

Aug. 18, 2017

JCS chief nominee vows to build military ‘feared by enemies, trusted by citizens’

Jeong Kyeong-doo, the nominee for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, said Friday that if appointed, he would strive to build a strong military "feared by enemies and trusted by citizens."During his parliamentary confirmation hearing, the Air Force general stressed the need to establish a robust readiness posture, pointing to the "graver-than-ever" security landscape marked by North Korea's continued provocations."(If appointed), I will fulfill my given tasks of building a military tha

Aug. 18, 2017

S. Korea, US defense ministers agree to closely coordinate against NK threats

WASHINGTON -- The defense ministers of South Korea and the United States agreed to continue their close coordination in responding to North Korea's threats, the Pentagon said Thursday.South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo and US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis spoke by phone Wednesday to discuss issues related to the countries' alliance, according to Pentagon chief spokesperson Dana White. South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo (Yonhap)Mattis congratulated Song on his confirmation as d

Aug. 18, 2017

Chinese expert warns THAAD deployment will spark regional arms race

JEJU ISLAND -- A Chinese expert warned Thursday that the ongoing deployment of a US missile defense system to South Korea will likely spark a "vicious cycle" that could lead to a regional arms race. Jiang Yuechun, head of China Institute of International Studies, still expressed hope that there are still windows of opportunity for the two neighbors to find middle ground and restore strained relations. Jiang was visiting the southern resort island of Jeju to attend a forum jointly organized by So

Aug. 17, 2017