Pentagon guarded about Korea's return of Japanese ammo in S. Sudan

 Pentagon officials often say defense cooperation between South Korea and Japan shouldn't be affected by often prickly political and diplomatic ties between the two neighboring nations.   But they were guarded, if not speechless, when South Korean peacekeeping troops in South Sudan returned 10,000 rounds of rifle ammunition to Japan last week.   "We don't have anything on that issue," Maj. Robert Firman, a Pentagon spokesman handling Africa affairs, said.   Asked again via email, he replied, "St

Jan. 13, 2014

S. Korean troops in South Sudan return ammunition to Japan

The South Korean peacekeeping forces in South Sudan Friday returned 10,000 rounds of ammunition they borrowed from Japan through a U.N. mission last month to beef up security amid an escalating civil war there, the South Korean military said."We've returned the ammunition borrowed from the Japanese forces based in Juba through the U.N. mission in South Sudan," a senior official of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said.Two C-130 carriers departing from South Korea arrived at the Juba airport on Dec. 27

Jan. 11, 2014

S. Korea, U.S. sit down to finalize defense cost accord

South Korea and the United States plan to resume their talks Saturday on sharing the cost of keeping 28,500 U.S. troops here with a view to finalizing a deal, defense sources said.The two parties are anticipated to come up with a final deal to end the 10th round of their negotiations that started Thursday to renew the latest five-year Special Measure Agreement (SMA).The two allies have so far failed to bridge their differences for a renewal, including the size of Seoul's contributions and rules

Jan. 11, 2014

S. Korea, U.S. to conduct annual military drills in late Feb.

South Korea and the United States will start their annual military drills next month, military officials said Thursday, despite North Korea's rejection of family reunions citing the planned exercises.The computer-based simulation, called Key Resolve, will be held for two weeks in late February to early March to improve the combined forces' operation and combat capabilities to deter threats from the North. The Combined Forces Command (CFC) said forces of the two nations are currently preparing fo

Jan. 9, 2014

U.S. strengthening military presence on peninsula

The U.S. is strengthening its military capabilities on the peninsula as an unpredictable North Korea continues to pose a security threat here and throughout the region.Seoul officials said Tuesday that the U.S. planned to deploy an 800-strong mechanized infantry battalion, equipped with advanced battle tanks and armored vehicles, to the first brigade of the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division north of Seoul this year.The new deployment plan comes as concerns have increased over the stability of the leade

Jan. 7, 2014

Korea to kick-start homegrown fighter jet development

South Korea plans to kick-start a long-delayed program to build fighter jets despite lingering skepticism over its feasibility and technological barriers, officials said Sunday. The ambitious project, called KFX or Boramae, is aimed at producing F-16-class fighter jets. The military aims to introduce the first model by 2023 and deploy 120 units over the following several years, officials said. “The Boramae project will kick into high gear this year to develop 120 Korean-made fighter planes,” a s

Jan. 5, 2014

U.S. strongly insists Korea pay far more for USFK

The United States is making a hard push for a much larger South Korean share in the cost of stationing American troops here than what Seoul is willing to pay, local government sources said on Sunday, casting doubt over the two sides’ impending negotiations over the issue.The two countries will open a new round of talks on Thursday in Seoul to renew the Special Measure Agreement, under which they will decide how to split the cost of stationing 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea.According to the so

Jan. 5, 2014

U.S. pushes hard for greater S. Korean share in defense cost: sources

The United States is making a hard push for a much larger South Korean share in the cost of stationing American troops here than what Seoul is willing to pay, local government sources said on Sunday, casting doubt over the two sides' impending negotiations over the issue.The two countries will open a new round of talks on Thursday in Seoul to renew the Special Measure Agreement, under which they will decide how to split the cost of stationing 28,500 U.S. troops in South Korea.According to the so

Jan. 5, 2014

Korean military expert to help remove Syria’s chemical weapons

South Korea has dispatched a military expert to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to participate in international efforts to remove Syria’s chemical arsenal, a government source said Monday.“The Defense Ministry has recently sent an expert to the OPCW’s department related to activities to remove Syria’s chemical weapons,” the source said.The OPCW is carrying out a mission to remove Syria’s chemical weapons jointly with the United States under the U.N. Security Council Reso

Dec. 30, 2013

Korea finalizes F-16 upgrade deal with BAE

South Korea has finalized a deal with the U.S. government to have BAE Systems upgrade its aging fleet of more than 130 F-16 fighters to improve their electronic warfare capabilities, the state arms procurement agency said Tuesday. Under the foreign military sales program, South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration and the U.S. Department of Defense signed a letter of agreement to upgrade 134 aircraft of the KF-16 variants C and D Block 52.Defense contractor BAE Systems will upgrade

Dec. 24, 2013

Korea faces dilemma after receiving Japanese ammo

South Korea is facing a dilemma after its peacekeepers in South Sudan received ammunition from Japan, which Tokyo may use to bolster its assertive defense policy. Responding to a U.N. request, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces engineering troops in South Sudan supplied 10,000 rounds of ammunition to the South Korean troops on Monday through the U.N. mission in the African country. It was the first time Japan has provided ammunition to another country and the latest move to ease self-imposed constraint

Dec. 24, 2013

Second group of ministries relocating to Sejong City

SEJONG (Yonhap News) ― The city of Sejong in central South Korea is a step closer to becoming the country’s administrative hub as the second phase of government office relocation from Seoul will be completed next week, officials said Monday. Sejong, some 150 kilometers south of Seoul, was officially designated in 2012 to become a so-called special autonomous city that will house a total of 16 central government ministries and offices as well as 20 subsidiary organizations that were located in or

Dec. 23, 2013

South Korean naval ships carrying relief cargo depart for Philippines

South Korean naval ships carrying water, food and medicine left the southern port city of Busan for the Philippines to support relief operations ongoing at the typhoon-stricken island nation, authorities said Saturday.   The two-ship flotilla made up of amphibious landing ships -- the Sung In Bong and Bi Ro Bong -- left South Korea's largest port, carrying 260 crew members and various supplies, including 30 vehicles ranging from excavators, dump trucks and cranes.   The ships are also taking 30

Dec. 21, 2013