Marine Corps commander inspects war readiness at front-line units

South Korea's Marine Corps commander inspected front-line troops near the tense maritime border Thursday and stressed any provocations by North Korea will be met with bold retaliations."Commander, Lt. Gen. Jun Jin-goo made an unannounced visit to the Yeonpyeong unit of the front-line Udo Island and carried out an operation inspection," the Marine Corps said. Lt. Gen. Jun Jin-goo (Yonhap)The set of forefront islands lie just below the Northern Limit Line, the de facto sea border with North Korea,

May 4, 2017

Is THAAD part of global US missile defense?

A top US commander was found Wednesday to have said the country is working to create a “fully-integrated” regional missile defense scheme that includes South Korea, fueling controversy over the deployment of a US missile shield that US President Donald Trump wants Seoul to pay $1 billion for. Controversy has persisted over the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery here, which China argues constitutes Seoul’s de facto participation in the US-led global missile defense progra

May 3, 2017

N. Korea says detained American man for carrying out 'criminal acts'

North Korea said Wednesday that it has detained an American man for conducting "criminal acts of hostility" aimed at overturning the country.The man identified as Kim Sang-dok was arrested at Pyongyang's international airport on April 22, according to the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). (Yonhap)"He was intercepted for committing criminal acts of hostility aimed to overturn the DPRK not only in the past but also during his last stay before interception," the KCNA said in an E

May 3, 2017

Seoul denies report about knowledge of US earlier request for financing THAAD

South Korea did not have any prior knowledge that the US might charge it for the deployment of a new missile shield, Cheong Wa Dae said Tuesday, as controversy escalated here over US President Donald Trump’s surprise remark last week about possibly billing Korea $1 billion for the system, which the allies said is now “operational” with “initial capability.” The presidential office’s clarification came in response to a local report that claimed that a transition team for then President-elect Trum

May 2, 2017

Korea to hold counter-terror drills this month

The South Korean government will hold counter-terror drills later this month as part of its preparations for the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup, Seoul officials said Tuesday. (Yonhap)The drills will be held in Suwon, some 46 kilometers south of Seoul, on May 16 to practice procedures to respond to a number of terrorism scenarios. The international competition is slated to take place in six cities -- Suwon, Jeonju, Incheon, Daejeon, Cheonan and Jeju -- from May 20 through June 11.The scenarios for

May 2, 2017

THAAD in operation against N. Korean missiles: USFK

American troops in South Korea confirmed Tuesday that their advanced missile defense system, called THAAD, has been put into operation despite controversies over its deployment here and cost."US Forces Korea confirms the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system is operational and has the ability to intercept North Korean missiles and defend the Republic of Korea," the USFK's spokesman Col. Rob Manning said in an emailed statement.He was calling South Korea by its official name.(Yonhap)The anno

May 2, 2017

USFK veterans to launch fraternity for alliance

South Korea said Tuesday former and current US Forces Korea service members will launch a new fraternity association in Washington DC this week after years of preparations, adding it would be the largest pro-Seoul group there.The Korea Defense Veterans Association will be born in a ceremony to be held at the official residence of the South Korean ambassador to the US on Wednesday (local time), according to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.It will have as many as 3.5 million members

May 2, 2017

THAAD in S. Korea is now operational: report

WASHINGTON -- The US THAAD missile defense system installed in South Korea is now operational, a US defense official was quoted Monday as saying."It has reached initial intercept capability," the unidentified official told AFP.(Yonhap)The THAAD battery has been deployed in southeastern South Korea to defend better against North Korean threats, despite Chinese pretests that the system hurts its strategic deterrence.The battery has also been a focus of attention after US President Donald Trump dem

May 2, 2017

[Graphic News] S. Korea paid W932b to USFK last year

South Korea paid 932 billion won ($828 million) to host American soldiers here last year, according to government data. The amount that Seoul paid was in accordance with the allies’ defense cost-sharing agreement. It has increased by nearly nine times compared to 107 billion won in 1991, the first year when the contribution was paid officially.Seoul’s share of the cost of stationing nearly 28,000 US soldiers here is set out in the Special Measurement Agreement under the Status Forces Agreement b

May 1, 2017

Seoul rules out negotiation over THAAD payment

South Korea on Monday ruled out any future negotiation over who should pay for a US advanced missile defense system to be deployed here, but left open the possibility that the Trump administration might use the issue as leverage against Seoul during the allies’ defense-sharing negotiations scheduled to take place next year. Citing the Status of Forces Agreement and a classified separate agreement with US Forces in Korea, the Defense Ministry stressed that the allies had agreed that the US would

May 1, 2017

Allies’ security chiefs ‘reiterate’ initial agreement on THAAD: Cheong Wa Dae

Security chiefs of South Korea and the United States reaffirmed the initial agreement on a US advanced missile defense system that Washington would shoulder expenses for deploying and operating the weapon system, Seoul’s presidential office said Sunday.The reassurance came amid growing jitters here over US President Donald Trump’s surprise remarks that South Korea should pay $1 billion for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, some of whose key components have arrived on the peninsula.

April 30, 2017

USS Carl Vinson stages war drills with Korean Navy

The USS Carl Vinson, a US aircraft carrier, on Saturday started a joint naval drill with the South Korean Navy in the East Sea amid heightened tensions from North Korea's failed ballistic missile launch earlier in the morning, defense officials here said."South Korea and US strike forces began a drill in the East Sea from 6 p.m. today against the backdrop of the current security situation," the South Korean Navy said. A photo of the USS Carl Vinson (Yonhap)No specific schedule for the rendezvous

April 30, 2017

Korea, US finish joint military exercise

South Korea and the United States on Sunday wrapped up their two-month combined defense drills amid unrelenting tensions on the Korean Peninsula."The Foal Eagle exercise is ending today as scheduled," a South Korean military official said. South Korean and US troops hold joint logistics drills in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, as part of their Foal Eagle exercise. (Yonhap)The allies kicked off the annual Foal Eagle drills, a major field-training exercise, at the start of March involving more

April 30, 2017

Korea to build new amphibious landing ship

South Korea said Friday it has begun the construction of another large-scale amphibious landing ship to be used by the country's Navy.A keel-laying ceremony for the 14,500-ton vessel was held the day at the shipyard of Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co. in Busan, according to the state arms procurement agency. The ship, 199.4 meters long and 31 meters wide, is scheduled to be launched in April next year. It will be delivered to the Navy in 2020 after a trial operation, said the Defense A

April 28, 2017

THAAD ‘set for actual operation’

South Korea’s Defense Ministry announced Thursday that an advanced American anti-missile system here will soon be put into “actual operation” to counter North Korea’s ballistic missile threats.Hours earlier, Adm. Harry Harris, commander of the US Pacific Command, told US congressmen that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system will become operational “in the coming days.”Adm. Harry Harris, the commander of the US Pacific Command, testifies before a House Armed Services Committee in Washin

April 27, 2017

War remains recovery team hosts event for foreign defense officials

A South Korean task force on the recovery of remains held a special event Thursday for foreign defense officials at embassies in Seoul as part of what it calls "defense diplomacy, marking the 10th anniversary of its establishment.The Agency for KIA Recovery & Identification at the Ministry of National Defense took note of the decisive help of 60 nations that sent troops and materials for South Korea fighting against the invading North Korea in the 1950-53 Korean War. Foreign defense officials at

April 27, 2017

Allies' security chiefs say THAAD installation 'smooth'

The security chiefs of Seoul and Washington discussed the ongoing "smooth" installation of a US missile defense battery in South Korea on Thursday, a day after some of its key components were delivered to the deployment site in a southeastern county.National Security Office chief Kim Kwan-jin and his US counterpart H.R. McMaster held a 25-minute telephone conversation over the deployment of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense system and other security issues, Seoul's presidential office said i

April 27, 2017

Korean Navy to test unmanned ship

South Korea's Navy will start the trial operation of an unmanned ship next month, the country's newly developed weapon mainly for use on the tense sea border with North Korea, the state arms procurement agency said Thursday.The Defense Acquisition Program Agency launched a 3.3 billion won ($2.9 million) project in late 2015 to develop an unmanned surface vessel in partnership with LIG Nex 1, a local defense firm. A newly developed unmanned surface vessel cuts through the water. (Defense Acquisit

April 27, 2017