S. Korea to buy 14 CH-47D choppers from the U.S.

South Korea plans to purchase 14 CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the United States, according to the Pentagon's weaponry trade arm.The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has already notified Congress of South Korea's request for the sale of the twin-engine, tandem rotor heavy-lift helicopters.A proposed package deal estimated at $151 million would include spare parts and logistical support under the Foreign Military Sales program, which requires congressional approval.The CH-47Ds being co

Dec. 5, 2013

Seoul to finalize air defense zone plan

South Korea plans to finalize its decision to expand its air defense zone this week and will explain it to its neighboring states before officially declaring it, Seoul officials said Tuesday.Since Beijing unilaterally drew an Air Defense Identification Zone in the East China Sea last week that overlaps with those of South Korea and Japan, Seoul has been pushing to expand its zone to protect its territorial airspace.“Within this week, the government will hold a national security policy coordinati

Dec. 3, 2013

S. Korea seeks U.S. understanding on plans for new air zone

South Korea is in early consultations with the United Stats over its reported plans to redraw a maritime air defense zone in response to China's declaration of its own air zone in the East China Sea, a diplomatic source said Monday.Beijing's announcement in late November has added to military tensions in Northeast Asia. Seoul is especially irked as China's new zone includes Ieodo, an underwater reef that is home to a South Korean ocean research station.The Park Geun-hye administration is apparen

Dec. 3, 2013

Biden embarks on Asia tour amid heightened tension

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Monday embarked on a three-nation Asia tour amid heightened tensions over China’s recent declaration of a new air defense zone in the East China Sea.Biden is to visit Japan and China from Monday through Thursday to discuss the escalating controversy and other bilateral issues. He is to arrive in Korea on Thursday to coordinate responses to China’s unilateral air demarcation.Seoul is leaning toward expanding its air defense zone, a move which analysts say Washingt

Dec. 2, 2013

Sino-U.S. war of nerves intensifies

Tension is mounting in Northeast Asia as the U.S. flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers through what China has recently designated as an air defense zone, apparently to protest the unilateral demarcation.Taking off from their home base of Guam, the unarmed strategic bombers on Tuesday flew through China’s air defense identification zone without prior notice and returned to base.Washington officials cast the deployment simply as part of the long-planned training mission. But analysts say it was a

Nov. 27, 2013

Seoul finalizes plan to buy four refueling aircraft

South Korea on Wednesday finalized its plan to purchase four in-flight tankers from overseas makers for operational deployment from 2017. The acquisition project is designed to improve the duration of the country’s flight operations.At a top military decision-making committee, officials including Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin decided to announce the official bidding procedures in February next year and conclude negotiations with foreign firms within the year.Airbus’ A-330, Boeing’s KC-767 and Is

Nov. 27, 2013

Air zone issue deepens feud in Northeast Asia: S. Korean FM

The recent establishment of China's air control zone that overlaps with those of South Korea and Japan has further aggravated conflicts in Northeast Asia, Seoul's top diplomat said.Tensions have been escalating since last Saturday when China announced its Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea that overlaps with those of South Korea and Japan. In response, South Korea and Japan expressed regret, and the United States flew a pair of B-52 bombers through the area in defianc

Nov. 27, 2013

Korea, Peru to discuss defense, security ties

South Korean and Peruvian defense ministers will hold talks this week to strengthen bilateral ties in security and arms industry sectors, the government said Tuesday.The defense ministry said Kim Kwan-jin will meet Pedro Cateriano on Wednesday in Seoul to discuss recent headway made in two-way relations and review developments in the export deal for KT-1 basic trainers.The KT-1 or Woongbi is a propeller-driven tandem two-seat trainer plane built jointly by the state-run Agency for Defense Develo

Nov. 26, 2013

Territorial disputes spread to the air

Regional territorial disputes at sea appear to be escalating into the aerial domain after China on Saturday declared its air defense zone, which overlaps with those of South Korea and Japan.Beijing’s Air Defense Identification Zone covers contentious areas in the East China Sea such as Senkaku/Diaoyu islands currently under Japan’s control and Ieodo, a submerged rock in the overlapping exclusive economic zones of South Korea and China.Not bound by international law, the zone is set up outside a

Nov. 25, 2013

Korea to permanently keep records of former sex slaves

Records related to South Korean women who were forced into sexual slavery by Japan during World War II will be permanently kept as state-designated records, the government said Monday.The National Archives of Korea said it has given a one-month notice of its plan to designate some 3,060 records related to the former sex slaves being kept at “House of Sharing,” the home for the living former sex slaves in Gwangju, just south of Seoul, earlier this month.The records to be kept include the women‘s

Nov. 25, 2013

Navy boat in making sinks due to winds

CHANGWON (Yonhap News) ― A moored Navy guided missile patrol boat under construction sank at a shipyard due to strong winds, the shipbuilder said Monday.Sources said the 430-ton Gumdoksuri Class patrol killer guided missile boat started sinking at around 3 a.m. as it was pounded by strong winds and waves. The boat, armed with 76 millimeter guns, was one of 24 being built to replace smaller Chamsuri Class patrol boats serving in the Navy.The name of the shipyard on the southern coast was not reve

Nov. 25, 2013