S. Korea, Germany hold defense meeting to expand ties

South Korea and Germany held a high-level defense talk on Tuesday to discuss regional security issues and arrange military exchange programs between the two nations, Seoul's defense ministry said.Lee Jeong-gyu, South Korea's defense ministry international policy director, met with his German counterpart Thorsten Kahler to explore ways to expand cooperation in international peacekeeping operations and exchange programs between the two nations' armed forces.The two sides also shared opinions on th

Feb. 18, 2014

S. Korea completes delivery of 16 T-50 trainers to Indonesia

South Korea has completed the delivery of 16 T-50 supersonic trainer jets built by the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to Indonesia, the Korean aircraft maker said Thursday, paving the way for expanding bilateral defense cooperation.After signing a $400 million deal in 2011, KAI said it delivered 16 T-50i planes between September and January using ferry flights via Taiwan and the Philippines.On Thursday, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hosted a ceremony celebrating its deployment

Feb. 13, 2014

S. Korean Cabinet approves notes on defense cost deal with U.S.

The South Korean Cabinet approved two exchanges of notes on Tuesday that are linked to a new defense cost-sharing pact with the United States.Last month, the allies struck a deal to renew the Special Measures Agreement aimed at jointly footing the cost of stationing the 28,500 United States Forces Korea troops on the Korean soil.Under the deal, South Korea agreed to pay 920 billion won ($867 million) this year for the upkeep of the U.S. troops, a 5.8 percent increase from a year earlier. The pac

Feb. 11, 2014

Seoul voices concerns over Japan's push for collective self-defense

South Korea called on Japan Tuesday to stop making "regressive" remarks on its past wrongdoings and refrain from causing regional instability by pushing for its collective self-defense amid lingering suspicions. Japan's move to expand its military role has won support from the United States, but caused alarm in South Korea and some other Asian nations where it is viewed as re-militarization."A country has the right to decide on its self-defense," defense ministry Kim Min-seok said in a briefing.

Feb. 11, 2014

DP calls for Cabinet reshuffle

The main opposition Democratic Party on Friday demanded President Park Geun-hye replace her ministers and secretaries amid growing criticism over their poor performance and controversial remarks.On Thursday evening, President Park fired Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Yoon Jin-sook for her inappropriate comments and gesture regarding a massive oil spill in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province.While inspecting the accident site, Yoon was seen covering her nose to avoid smelling the spill and said she th

Feb. 7, 2014

Seoul welcomes Virginia legislature for East Sea bill

South Korea on Friday welcomed the passage of a bill in the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly that calls for using the Korean name for the body of water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, alongside the currently used Japanese name.The Virginia House of Delegates passed the bill on Thursday, requiring the use of the Korean name “East Sea” to be added to all new public school textbooks in the U.S. state, along with “Sea of Japan.” Currently, the Japanese name is used to refer to th

Feb. 7, 2014

S. Korea, U.S. Marines complete two-week armed march

A contingent of South Korean and U.S. Marine Corps has completed its two-week armed march along the eastern mountainous region and carried out drills to improve their combat capabilities, military officials here said Friday.After finishing a grueling winter survival camp, about 300 Marines of the allies started their march at Mount Hwangbyeong in the northeastern province of Gangwon on Jan. 26 to walk down 381 kilometers to the southeastern port city of Pohang, the South Korean Marine Corps said

Feb. 7, 2014

S. Korea, U.S. hold working-level meeting on cybersecurity

South Korea and the United States held their first working-level meeting on cybersecurity Friday to discuss ways to develop joint cyberwarfare capabilities and an emergency response system, Seoul's defense ministry said.The meeting comes after defense ministries of the two nations last year agreed to launch the Cyber Cooperation Working Group in light of a series of large-scale hack attacks into South Korean networks, which was believed to have been masterminded by North Korea.During the first m

Feb. 7, 2014

Allies to apply ‘tailored deterrence’

South Korea and the U.S. will apply their “tailored deterrence strategy” to the allied military exercises for the first time this year as part of their stepped-up efforts to cope with increasing North Korean military threats.In a move to foster peace and stability, Seoul will push to begin a project this year to establish a peace park within the Demilitarized Zone bisecting the peninsula and make a proposal to Pyongyang about the initiative at an “appropriate time.”Seoul’s ministries of defense,

Feb. 6, 2014

N.K. demands allies cancel military drills

North Korea on Thursday renewed its call for the cancellation of the upcoming South Korea-U.S. military exercises, threatening to rethink Wednesday’s agreement to hold reunions of separated families later this month.The North’s powerful National Defense Commission also lashed out at the allies for the mobilization on Wednesday of a nuclear-capable B-52 bomber in an exercise over the West Sea, calling for an end to “confrontational” acts.Seoul’s Defense Ministry said that the allies would carry o

Feb. 6, 2014

Military to step up handling of sexual assault cases

The defense ministry said Wednesday it has revised disciplinary rules to tighten punishment on sexual misconduct among servicemembers and civilian personnel to curb sex crimes.Under the new rules, military judicial officials will take charge of investigating cases of sexual harassment and assault, including rape, involving servicemembers, as well as those who are caught buying sexual services.The disciplinary committee must include female members to decide the level of punishment to better refle

Feb. 5, 2014

S. Korean defense chief, U.S. Cyber Command leader discuss cyber security

The commander of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency visited Seoul to meet with South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin to discuss cyber security issues, the defense ministry here said Tuesday.U.S. Army Gen. Keith Alexander made a one-day visit to Seoul on Monday after his stop in Japan, as part of his trip to close allies before stepping down in March. The four-star general last year announced his plan to retire after the NSA was rocked by the worldwide spying sca

Feb. 4, 2014

S. Korea, Ukraine hold first joint anti-piracy drills

South Korea and Ukraine held their first joint anti-piracy drills in waters off the Somali coast to improve interoperability of the two nations' navies, the Joint Chiefs of Staff here said Tuesday.South Korea's 4,400-ton destroyer and Ukraine's 3,500-ton naval escort ship carried out a series of events Saturday that included Underwater Demolition Teams and Navy SEALs of both nations taking part in onboard search-and-seizure drills, live-fire proficiency and aviation operations, the JCS said.Afte

Feb. 4, 2014

S. Korean aerobatic team to attend Singapore Airshow

South Korea's military aerobatic team will attend Asia's largest air show in Singapore next week with a squadron of eight T-50B trainer jets, the Air Force said Monday.The Black Eagles aerobatic team departed Jeju International Airport on the southern resort island on Saturday to participate in the Singapore Airshow, slated for Feb. 11-16 at the Changi Exhibition Center.The South Korean team will put on an action-packed performance with the T-50B, a family of T-50 supersonic trainer jets jointly

Feb. 3, 2014

S. Korean Navy forces depart for military exercise in Thailand

A group of South Korean Navy and Marine forces left for Thailand to participate in a multilateral Pacific military exercise led by the United States and Thailand, the Navy said Sunday.The group of 170 Navy forces and 216 Marine Corps troops, equipped with a 2,600-ton landing ship and amphibious assault vehicles, departed the southern port of Jinhae earlier in the day, according to the Navy.The South Korean forces will arrive at the Thai port of Sattahip on Feb. 11 and take part in the annual Cob

Feb. 2, 2014

Seoul, Washington sign new defense cost sharing pact

South Korea and the United States signed their new pact Sunday on sharing the costs of keeping American troops in South Korea, the foreign ministry here said.Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Sung Kim signed the renewal of the Special Measure Agreement, aimed at jointly footing the cost of stationing the 28,500 United States Forces Korea troops, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.After the signing, the pact will be submitted to the National Assembly for a

Feb. 2, 2014

S. Korea sees no unusual movements in N. Korea's military

North Korea showed no signs of unusual military movements on Thursday as it continued its winter military drills, a South Korean military official said."Any unusual movements have not been spotted," the official said.The drills come after the North proposed that the rival Koreas halt "all acts of provoking and slandering" from Jan. 30, a day before the Lunar New Year's Day, a major holiday celebrated by both Koreas.The North has temporarily stopped sending propaganda leaflets through the western

Jan. 30, 2014