Seoul bolsters defense of border islands

South Korea has deployed mobile surface-to-air missiles and amphibious armored vehicles to its border islands to better fend off a surprise North Korean infiltration of the islands, Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said Monday.During a parliamentary audit, the JCS also stressed that it was maintaining top readiness to promptly respond to the North’s possible attacks by the North on civilian groups sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets in areas close to the inter-Korean border.“We have devised a plan to r

Oct. 13, 2014

Amb. Ahn: S. Korea, U.S. exchange information on THAAD but no discussions on deployment

South Korea and the United States exchanged information on key features of the THAAD missile defense system, but there were no discussions on deploying the system to South Korea, Seoul's ambassador to Washington said Saturday."I am aware that there were consultations on the weapons system itself," Amb. Ahn Ho-young said in response to questions from lawmakers during a parliamentary audit of the embassy. "But there were no discussions at all about deploying a THAAD battery to the Korean Peninsula

Oct. 12, 2014

Army seeks to arrest general for sex abuse

The Army prosecution sought an arrest warrant against a two-star general on charges of sexually harassing a female staff sergeant between August and September on FridayHe was detained in his unit in Incheon the day before.Defense Minister Han Min-koo made a public apology over the incident ― the latest in a recent series of abuse cases in the military, which has sparked intense public criticism of moral laxity and indiscipline.The major general of the 17th Infantry Division, identified by his su

Oct. 10, 2014

Chinese fisherman killed in Coast Guard raid

A Chinese fisherman was killed during the Coast Guard's crackdown on his ship's illegal fishing in South Korean waters Friday, officials said.The 45-year-old skipper, only identified by his surname Song, was shot by a South Korean Coast Guard officer on the ship in waters near Wangdeung Island in Buan County, North Jeolla Province, and transferred to a hospital in the southwestern port city, where he later died, Coast Guard officials said."He died at Mokpo Hangook Hospital around 11:20 a.m. An a

Oct. 10, 2014

Warrant sought for army major general on sexual abuse charges

The military police sought a warrant Friday to detain an Army major general on charges of sexually molesting a female subordinate, officers said Friday.   In the latest in a series of abuse cases that have laid bare lax discipline among service personnel, the two-star general, whose identity was withheld, has been accused of sexually harassing the female non-commissioned officer at his office five times in August and September, according to the Army headquarters. He is in charge of an Army divis

Oct. 10, 2014

Court rules state responsible for cleaning up returned USFK land

South Korea’s highest court on Tuesday upheld a lower court’s decision to rule that the central government was responsible for cleaning up provincial government land that had been contaminated by U.S. Forces Korea from 1957 to 2007. The land, 73,243 square meters in size, is located in Paju, a border city between the two Koreas near the demilitarized zone in Gyeonggi Province. The central government put the land under the control of the USFK in 1957. U.S. infantrymen were stationed on the plot o

Oct. 7, 2014

S. Korea replaces top military intelligence official

The Defense Ministry on Tuesday replaced the head of its key intelligence organization, apparentlyholding him accountable for failing to give timely and appropriate advice with regard to a series of recent fatal incidents in the barracks.The ministry appointed Lt. Gen. Cho Hyun-chon to lead the Defense Security Command, replacing Lt. Gen. Lee Jae-soo, who took the post just a year ago.It was part of the regular shake-up of generals. Many viewed it as a de facto dismissal of Lee from the post.The

Oct. 7, 2014

Army to dispatch medics to frontline outposts

The South Korean military seeks to dispatch one medic each to all of the frontline outposts and establish a medical transportation unit to increase the chances of border troops surviving accidents, the Army said Sunday.The move comes amid increasing calls to enhance the military medical system for border units. A shooting spree in a border unit in June brought to the fore the difficulties in offering swift medical support to remote bases near the inter-Korean border.“When an emergency occurs in

Sept. 28, 2014

U.S. makes Korean Peninsula only exception to anti-landmines pledge

The United States on Tuesday made the Korean Peninsula the only exception to its pledge not to use anti-personnel landmines, citing the peninsula's "unique circumstances" and its commitment to South Korea's defense.   The White House announced the pledge, also vowing to destroy stockpiles of anti-personnel landmines that are "not required for the defense of South Korea." It also said the U.S. won't assist, encourage or induce anyone outside the peninsula to engage in activity banned under the Ot

Sept. 24, 2014

KAI calls for new procurement policy to boost helicopter industry

South Korea’s government must revamp its outdated procurement policy to help fuel the growth of its helicopter industry that possesses good export potential, local experts said Thursday.In a meeting hosted by Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. in Seoul, researchers, government officials and state agencies that use choppers called for changes at the policymaking and legislative levels to streamline purchasing procedures and enhance maintenance for safe operations.South Korea was the 11th country in

Sept. 18, 2014

Marine killed by grenade explosion

One Marine Corps recruit was killed and two others were injured on Tuesday when a hand grenade exploded during a training session in the southeastern port city of Pohang, military officials said. The accident took place at around 10:20 a.m. at the drill camp of the South Korean Marine Corps when a hand grenade suddenly exploded, severing the hand of one Marine recruit with shrapnel while wounding another recruit and one instructor, they said.The 19-year-old who threw the grenade died in the afte

Sept. 16, 2014

Allies seek agreement on OPCON transfer in Oct.

South Korea and the U.S. are seeking to finalize the date of and conditions for the transfer of wartime control of Korean troops back to Seoul during next month’s meeting of their defense ministers, an official here said Tuesday.Since last year, the allies have been discussing the delay in the transfer of the U.S.’ wartime operational control of local troops, previously set for 2015. How long the transfer should be delayed or whether it should be delayed at all has been a source of intense debat

Sept. 16, 2014