2 N.K. missiles fired, 1 exploded mid-air: U.S.

North Korea on Wednesday fired two intermediate-range ballistic missiles, one of which exploded mid-air, U.S. Strategic Command said. According to USSTRATCOM, its systems detected what was assessed to be simultaneous launches of two No Dong missile launches at 7:53 a.m., near the western city of Hwangju, Hwanghae Province.(YTN News Capture)“Initial indications reveal one of the missiles exploded immediately after launch, while the second was tracked over North Korea and into the (East Sea) Sea o

Aug. 3, 2016

USFK commander stress THAAD will pose no health risks

The Terminal High Altitude Area defense system will be operated in South Korea in a manner that will pose no health risks to local residents, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea said on Tuesday, amid lingering concerns over the system's powerful radar. South Korea and the United States announced on July 8 that the advanced anti-missile shield will be set up in the country by the end of 2017, with the allies selecting Seongju, 296 kilometers south of Seoul, as the site for the THAAD battery.Seongj

Aug. 2, 2016

Park renews appeal for THAAD deployment

President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday renewed her appeal for the planned deployment of an advanced U.S. anti-missile shield on South Korean soil, with little headway being made to convince opponents on the need for the defense system. Presiding over a Cabinet meeting, the commander-in-chief reiterated that the decision by Seoul and Washington to deploy a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery to the southern town of Seongju was one that was made based on "long deliberations and exhaustive revi

Aug. 2, 2016

U.S. to deploy B-1B bombers in Guam

The U.S. Air Force will rotate its currently mainland-based B-1B Lancer bombers to its Guam air base from this month, marking the first deployment of the supersonic bomber in the area since 2006 and representing the increased military presence of the U.S. in the Pacific region.The deployment as of Aug. 6 comes as North Korea steps up its nuclear and ballistic missile threats against South Korea and the U.S., under orders from leader Kim Jong-un.Last week, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said that the N

Aug. 1, 2016

U.S. Air Force to forward deploy B-1B bombers in Guam

The U.S. Air Force will forward deploy supersonic bombers in Guam early this month, partly to better cope with North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, a recent statement by the Pacific Air Forces showed on its website.On Saturday, the B-1B Lancers will be deployed to the U.S. Pacific Command's Andersen Air Force Base on Guam to replace the B-52 bombers, the first time in 10 years that the airplanes will be stationed on the key island. The last time the bombers were sent to the island was in A

Aug. 1, 2016

U.S. Army secretary to visit Korea

U.S. Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning is due in South Korea on Monday on a trip that includes a visit to the U.S. Army unit set to operate the THAAD missile defense system to be deployed by the Asian ally.Fanning's three-day trip to South Korea is part of his swing through the region that also includes stops in Hawaii, Guam, Malaysia and Japan. It is Fanning's first trip to the region since taking office as secretary in May.U.S. officials declined to provide details on Fanning's itinerary, but

Aug. 1, 2016

Korea to host int'l ground weapons exhibit in Sept.

South Korea will host an international ground forces arms exhibition in September that will showcase the latest high-tech advances in weapons systems, organizers for the upcoming event said Sunday.The DX Korea 2016 hosted by the Association of the Republic of Korea Army will be held at the Korea International Exhibition Center, northwest of Seoul, from Sept. 7-10. It said 220 arms manufacturers from all over the world, as well as top military brass from 35 countries, are expected to tour the fai

July 31, 2016

Navy launches new patrol boat to counter N. Korean hovercrafts

South Korea's Navy launched a new fast patrol boat to help counter North Korea's hovercraft force along its maritime demarcation line, the military said Thursday. The new 210-ton patrol boat killer medium, rocket, named Chamsuri-211, will gradually replace the existing 20-year-old Chamsuri patrol boats in service, the Navy said. A spokesman said the new boats will greatly bolster Seoul's ability to defend the tension-prone western maritime sea border with North Korea.(Yonhap)The launching event

July 28, 2016

U.S., China achieve 'certain amount of clarity' on THAAD during Rice's visit: senior official

U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice clearly explained to Chinese officials that the THAAD missile defense system the U.S. plans to deploy in South Korea won't hurt China's security interests, and both sides achieved "a certain amount of clarity on that," a senior official said.The official, speaking during a background briefing in Beijing, said that Chinese officials did raise their concerns about the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system during Rice's trip to Beijing that included me

July 28, 2016

Korea, U.S. hold talks on expanding defense technology cooperation

South Korea and the United States will take steps to expand cooperation in defense technology exchanges and the conventional arms trade, the defense ministry said Wednesday. In the first ever Defense Technology Strategy & Cooperation Group meeting, Vice Defense Minister Hwang In-moo met his U.S. counterpart David Shear, principal deputy under secretary of defense for policy, to discuss ways to promote defense technology cooperation between the two countries, the Ministry of National Defense said

July 27, 2016

Obama says U.S. commitment to Korea 'will never waver'

U.S. President Barack Obama said Monday the U.S. commitment to South Korea's security will never waver and the country will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Asian ally in defense of peace and prosperity.Obama made the remark in a message issued in honor of Korean War veterans to mark the upcoming 63rd anniversary of the 1953 armistice that ended three-year fighting in the Korean War. The message came as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump increasingly questions the value of alliances

July 26, 2016