U.S. Pacific commander: THAAD talks don't necessarily mean deployment

The decision by South Korea and the United States to begin consultations on the potential deployment of the THAAD missile defense system doesn't mean the two sides have agreed to deploy the system, the U.S. Pacific commander said Thursday."Neither South Korea nor the United States have agreed to put a THAAD in Korea," Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr. said at a Pentagon briefing. "The decision to discuss it is not necessarily a decision to do it, not yet. So, we're having the discussions now, and we'll s

Feb. 26, 2016

New naval base opens on southern resort island of Jeju

South Korea will officially launch the Navy's new base on the southern resort island of Jeju this week, wrapping up the landmark naval project which took the country 23 years and more than 1 trillion won (US$806 million) to accomplish, the Navy said Thursday.    The naval base, billed by the Navy as Jeju's private-military sea port, is capable of docking 20 combat vessels and two cruise ships of the largest class simultaneously.   Set up along the southern coast of Jeju, the foot of South Korea,

Feb. 25, 2016

Defense Minister inspects readiness of military's counter-terror units

Defense Minister Han Min-koo inspected the combat readiness of the military's special counter-terror units Thursday as the government recently warned of possible terror attacks by North Korea.Han visited the Special Warfare Command's counter-terror unit and a special chemical warfare battalion to check the forces' battle preparedness earlier in the day, the ministry said in a statement.The defense chief instructed the troops to maintain a "thorough readiness position" against possible terrorist

Feb. 25, 2016

Korea, New Zealand hold defense talks

South Korea held defense policy talks with New Zealand Thursday to discuss security issues, including North Korea's recent nuclear and long-range missile tests, the South Korean government said.Director-General for International Policy Yoon Soon-ku represented South Korea during the talks held at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul, with the New Zealand side headed by Charlotte Beaglehole, director of international relations.The discussion will encompass defense issues such as the security

Feb. 25, 2016

Korea, U.S. hold joint air force training

Seven A-10 American anti-tank aircraft have been deployed in South Korea for joint air force training, the Air Force here said Wednesday.The four-day Buddy Wing exercise between South Korean and U.S. air force squadrons will run through Thursday in Osan Air Base, it said.The U.S. mobilized seven A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft for the joint drill, which focuses on the allies' capability to carry out joint air support operations.The A-10 is tasked with launching air attacks on North Korean armored vehi

Feb. 24, 2016

Korea to dispatch 6th rotational PKO forces to South Sudan

South Korea will dispatch its 6th batch of peacekeeping troops to South Sudan as part of its mission to help the civil war-torn African country's rebuilding efforts, the Army said Tuesday.The 270-strong contingent will depart for the United Nations peacekeeping operations based in Bor, located in the Jonglei State of South Sudan, in two groups in late February and mid-March, it said.South Korea first stationed the rotational PKO forces with the U.N. Mission in South Sudan in March 2013 and has r

Feb. 23, 2016

Korea-U.S. to hold exercises against N.K. nuclear threats

The Ministry of National Defense said Monday that officials from South Korea and the U.S. plan to hold a tabletop exercise against nuclear threats from North Korea. 　The meeting, hosted by the allies’ Deterrence Strategy Committee, will postulate a situation in which Pyongyang poses threats with its nuclear program and missiles. Tabletop exercise refers to discussion-based sessions on contingency plans for simulated scenarios.　During the tabletop exercise, allies will assess North Korean threats

Feb. 22, 2016

Defense ministry dismisses THAAD speculation as rumor

The Ministry of National Defense on Monday dismissed the growing speculation about South Korea's possible purchase of the U.S.-made THAAD missile defense system as a "mere rumor."Although the ministry has said it would not purchase a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system from the U.S., speculation has persisted that Seoul would acquire one or two THAAD batteries to counter Pyongyang's evolving nuclear and missile threats."(The speculation) is a mere rumor. It is not true," ministry spokespe

Feb. 22, 2016

Senior U.S. diplomat to visit S. Korea for possible THAAD talks

A senior U.S. diplomat handling missile defense will visit Seoul next week for meetings with defense, foreign affairs and American military officials, the State Department said, suggesting the trip is related to the proposed deployment of the THAAD missile defense system to the South.Frank Rose, assistant secretary of state for arms control, verification and compliance, will be in Seoul from March 4-6 "for meetings with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S. Forces Korea,

Feb. 22, 2016

South Korea, U.S. Marines to intensify amphibious drill

South Korea and the United States Marines Corps. will intensify their joint amphibious drill in March, an official familiar with the matter said Sunday, in what could be seen as a retaliation against the recent nuclear test and long-range rocket launch by North Korea.The two Marines will strengthen their inland ground operations, which are conducted after landing in an amphibious vehicle, a South Korean military official told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity.The two allies will try t

Feb. 21, 2016

Kaesong shutdown will not affect nuclear development: Pyongyang

  The recent shutdown of an inter-Korean industrial complex will not affect Pyongyang's nuclear program, as it started before the opening of the zone, North Korea said Saturday.   The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the mouthpiece of Pyongyang, said its development of nuclear and "space" programs will remain intact after the shutdown, adding that South Korea's plan to cut the funding of such moves by closing the complex will be unsuccessful.   The South Korean government decided to close the

Feb. 20, 2016

China sinks deeper into 'mire' of N. Korea's nuke gambit: state media

North Korea's defiant pursuit of nuclear weapons has pulled China "deeper into the mire," a newspaper published by China's ruling Communist Party said Saturday, as Beijing is under pressure to do more to curb Pyongyang's aggression.   North Korea's Jan. 6 nuclear test and Feb. 7 launch of a long-range rocket have drawn international condemnations and fanned fears that the isolated country is moving ahead with the advance of its nuclear and missile programs.    China is North Korea's top trading

Feb. 20, 2016

Korea, U.S. conduct joint drill to brace for wartime situation

South Korea and the United States on Friday conducted a joint drill aimed at promptly dispatching American troops to the Korean Peninsula on the occasion of contingency, the South's Army said.Heightened tensions on the divided peninsula remain following North Korea's latest nuclear test and long-range rocket launch.The drill between South Korea's 2nd Operations Command and the 8th U.S. Army called for the South's Army to provide support for Washington's expedited dispatch of its soldiers to the

Feb. 19, 2016