Suspension of S. Korea-U.S. exercise could raise doubts about U.S. commitment: expert

Last week's temporary suspension of the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercise in the face of North Korean threats could raise questions about Washington's commitment to the defense of the Asian ally, a U.S. expert said.Dennis Halpin, a visiting scholar at the Johns Hopkins University's U.S.-Korea Institute, made the point in an article to the Weekly Standard magazine on Aug. 21, 2015, saying the suspension was akin to the 1992 cancellation of the then joint exercise Team Spirit."An even momen

Aug. 24, 2015

U.S. reiterates firm commitment to South Korea's defense

The United States said Sunday it is firmly committed to South Korea's security as South and North Korea were struggling in high-level talks to defuse the worst military tensions in more than two years."We are carefully monitoring the situation. We will continue to coordinate closely with the ROK and remain steadfast in our commitment to the defense of our allies," Gabrielle Price, a State Department spokeswoman, said in comments sent to Yonhap News Agency.Top security officials of the two Koreas

Aug. 24, 2015

S. Korea, U.S, military chiefs vow strong response to N. Korea provocation

The military chiefs of South Korea and the United States resolved on Saturday to launch powerful counterattacks against additional provocations by North Korea, the military said as inter-Korean tension soars over the North's threats of further attacks.South Korean Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Adm. Choi Yoon-hee and his U.S. counterpart Gen. Martin Dempsey also agreed to seek various measures "to deter North Korea from launching additional threats," an official from the South Korea

Aug. 22, 2015

S. Korea-U.S. exercise resumes after temporary suspension

South Korea and the United States have resumed a joint military exercise after a brief break in the wake of an exchange of artillery fire between the two Koreas, a U.S. official said Friday.The annual Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercise, which began Monday, "was suspended temporarily, I believe day before yesterday, in order to allow the U.S. side to coordinate with the ROK side on the actual exchange of artillery fire across the DMZ," Assistant Secretary of Defense David Shear told reporters. "That

Aug. 22, 2015

Park visits key military base over N. Korea's threats

President Park Geun-hye visited a military base near Seoul Friday to check South Korea's military readiness, Cheong Wa Dae said Friday, after a recent exchange of shells between the two Koreas heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.  The surprise visit to the headquarters of Third Army in Yogin, Gyeonggi Province, came as North Korea threatened to take military action unless South Korea halts propaganda broadcasts along the heavily fortified border.  Park is set to receive a briefing from t

Aug. 21, 2015

Korea-U.S. nuclear cooperation deal meets all legal requirements: CRS

The U.S.-South Korean civil nuclear cooperation agreement meets all requirements in U.S. law, the Congressional Research Service said.The agreement, which was signed in June, meets "all the terms of the Atomic Energy Act, and therefore could enter into force after a 30-day consultation period and a review period of 60 days of continuous sessions unless Congress enacted a joint resolution of disapproval," the CRS said in a report on nuclear cooperation with foreign countries.The assessment adds t

Aug. 20, 2015

Military chief orders powerful retaliation against N. Korean provocation

The military chief ordered front-line soldiers Tuesday to react with "powerful retaliation" to any recurrence of North Korean provocations at the border, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said."If the enemy provokes again, do not hesitate and retaliate resolutely and powerfully," Adm. Choi Yoon-hee, chairman of the JCS, told the commander of a military unit on the eastern border, according to the JCS.Choi visited the front-line unit earlier in the day to inspect its combat readiness posture in the wake

Aug. 18, 2015

Defense ministry, spy agency to host anti-hacking contest

The Defense Ministry said Monday it will host a contest in October to pick the best anti-hacking experts as part of efforts to fight growing hacking threats in cyberspace.In the 2015 White Hat Contest, to be held in October, three final teams each will be picked from the adult and underage segments in a simulated cyberattack situation in which the contestants are tasked with blocking hacking attempts, the ministry said.The winners will be given prizes along with a financial award worth 72 millio

Aug. 17, 2015

Park calls for military readiness against N. Korean provocations

President Park Geun-hye urged the military Monday to maintain its readiness amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula following a land mine attack blamed on North Korea.North Korea has threatened to carry out "indiscriminate strikes" on South Korea unless Seoul halts anti-Pyongyang broadcasts along their heavily fortified border that were restarted as a retaliation measure for the recent attack.South Korea's top military officer told the troops to sternly strike back against North Korea i

Aug. 17, 2015

Defense minister vows further retaliation after N. Korea‘s mine attack

Defense Minister Han Min-koo Wednesday warned of further retaliative actions for North Korea's recent land mine attack in the demilitarized zone besides the propaganda war launched against the enemy.  On Monday, the South Korean military launched its loudspeaker broadcasting campaign at the western border area, blasting out anti-Pyongyang messages and other instigating propaganda.  This action was taken in retaliation against the North as Seoul blamed Pyongyang for the detonation of three mines

Aug. 12, 2015

S. Korea, U.S. to launch joint artillery drills this month

South Korea and the United States will perform joint artillery firing drills this month to demonstrate their combat readiness against North Korea's provocations, the Defense Ministry said Wednesday.  The South Korean and U.S. military will showcase their joint artillery power in four drill sessions this month, including one set for later in the day, the ministry said in  statement.  About 2,000 South Korean and U.S. troops from 47 military units will join the drills, which will feature South Kor

Aug. 12, 2015

Computer vaccine firm serving Defense Ministry hacked: police

A software company providing computer vaccines to the Defense Ministry has been hacked, police said Wednesday.  The computer of a worker at Hauri, a company that provides vaccine programs to computer servers at the National Defense Ministry, was found to have been hacked, an official from the National Police Agency said.   "While probing a separate case, documents which seemed to have been leaked from Hauri were found," the official added.  The leaked documents included a bid proposal for vaccin

Aug. 12, 2015

S. Korea, Britain eye closer ties in defense industry

South Korea and Britain have agreed that they have great potential for partnerships in weapons development and trade, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.  In their talks here this week, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and his British counterpart Philip Hammond noted that two-way trade reached US$13.2 billion last year.  "They shared the opinion that bilateral economic cooperation is diversifying and potential is great for defense industry cooperation," the ministry said. It did not elaborate on pla

Aug. 11, 2015