Porous security reveals military complacency, patrol challenges

Experts say more realistic troop education, firmer discipline should be givenThe recent unchecked border crossing by a North Korean soldier has underscored the South Korean military’s complacency, slackened discipline and outmoded troop education, experts said.Some also pointed out that the incident revealed the troops’ difficulty patrolling the mountainous frontline areas around the clock, calling for a fundamental change in guarding the border.The porous security has caused public discontent a

Oct. 16, 2012

Defense minister offers public apology over border security failure

South Korea's defense minister issued a public apology Monday over the undetected defection early this month of a North Korean soldier through the heavily armed border and announced disciplinary measures against those responsible for the incident. "I acknowledge that the North Korean soldier's defection apparently shows the failure of security and flaws in the emergency reporting system. I sincere

Oct. 15, 2012

PACOM: S. Korea's improved missiles to boost 'defensive capability' against N. Korea

The U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) said Sunday that South Korea's improved missile range will bolster its "defensive capability" to counter North Korea's ballistic missile threat.It emphasized the communist nation poses the most urgent threat to its area of jurisdiction -- the Pacific Ocean."This improved range distance will provide a defensive capability that will allow the ROK and allies to defend

Oct. 15, 2012

Inspection on Army unit tightened

Lawmakers of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee visited South Korea’s 22nd Infantry Division on Friday in Goseong, Gwangwon Province, to toughen their inspection on the military base.The 22nd Division had been held responsible for lax border security on Oct. 2, when a North Korean solider jumped over three fences on the demarcation line and crossed over to the South without being spotted.Lawmakers criticized the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the parliamentary inspection on the inc

Oct. 12, 2012

126 military secrets leaked in last four years: report

Over 100 items of classified military information have been leaked in the last four years but most violators received only light punishments, a ruling party lawmaker said Friday.According to a report submitted by the Defense Security Command (DSC) for a parliamentary audit, 126 items of military information classed as third-degree or higher were been leaked between January 2009 and July of this year.Among them, 61 were classified as second-degree secrets, which include secret military operations

Oct. 12, 2012

Military blasted over border security

The Joint Chiefs of Staff came under mounting criticism Thursday over lax security on the border with North Korea following the defection of a soldier from the communist state.The military is also being reproved for maintaining a poor reporting system in the chain of command, further raising concern over South Korea’s military communication channels.The JCS said that the military unit guarding the demarcation line that took in the North Korean solider did not falsely report the situation to or t

Oct. 11, 2012

Korea, U.S. to strengthen missile defense

South Korea and the U.S. are moving to boost their missile defense as a key deterrent against nuclear-armed North Korea.Various sources told local media that the two allies have drawn up a strategic plan that aims to target and intercept the North’s nuclear facilities, underground bunkers and missiles.Officials from the two sides are expected to discuss the matter at the bilateral Security Consultative Meeting, scheduled to be held in the U.S. later this month.The plan calls for launching a stri

Oct. 10, 2012

JCS blasted for lax border watch

The Joint Chiefs of Staff has been criticized for loosely guarding the military demarcation line and allowing a North Korean soldier to freely cross over to the South.At a parliamentary inspection on the incumbent administration, lawmakers of the National Assembly’s national defense committee lashed out at JCS Chairman Jung Seung-jo for lax security at the border.The Ministry of National Defense said last Saturday that a North Korean solider defected to the South by crossing the MDL after killin

Oct. 9, 2012

Seoul to deploy longer-range missiles in 5 years

South Korea, U.S. seek to strengthen missile intelligence cooperationSouth Korea plans to fully deploy ballistic missiles with ranges of 550 km and 800 km within five years as Seoul and Washington have revised a bilateral guideline governing its missile development.A senior Seoul official said that the government had earmarked some 2.4 trillion won ($2.16 billion) for a five-year plan, starting from next year, to develop and deploy these longer-range missiles.“We aim to deploy these ballistic mi

Oct. 8, 2012

Outdated materials used for chemical warfare exercises

Korea’s Defense Ministry has its soldiers use aging and out-of-date materials for chemical and biological warfare exercises, raising concerns over their health and drill practicality.Citing a report submitted to the National Assembly’s national defense committee, lawmakers said that the ministry had only disposed of 44,367 materials out of 165,600 between 2008 and 2011. The rest, including 29-year-old mask filters and 13-year-old emergency personal decontaminants, are still being used. Soldiers

Oct. 8, 2012

White House says S. Korea's improved missile capability to target only N. Korea

The White House sought Sunday to limit the impact of a new missile deal with South Korea to its global nonproliferation efforts and regional security conditions in which China plays a growing role."The ROK's new missile guidelines are designed to improve the Republic of Korea's ability to defend against DPRK ballistic missiles," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters."The revisions

Oct. 8, 2012

S. Korea to deploy 550-km, 800-km-range missiles in 5 years: gov't source

South Korea plans to complete the deployment of new ballistic missiles with ranges of 550 and 800 kilometers in five years, a government source here said Monday, a follow-up measure for a revised missile agreement with the United States aimed at deterring threats from North Korea. (Yonhap News)

Oct. 8, 2012

N. Korean soldier defects after killing two superiors

A North Korean soldier on Saturday crossed the military demarcation line to defect to South Korea after shooting dead two of his superiors, officials at Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said.The soldier crossed the border at around 12:06 p.m. and expressed his intention for defection to a nearby guard post just south of the heavily fortified border. He is the first to defect across the MDL since the

Oct. 6, 2012

U.S. chemical battalion to be redeployed to S. Korea

(Yonhap) -- The United States plans to redeploy a chemical unit to South Korea to strengthen the combined deterrence against North Korea, nine years after its departure from the Asian ally, an American military official said Saturday.   The 23rd Chemical Battalion withdrew from South Korea in 2004 as part of an agreement calling for South Korea to take over 10 major defense missions from the Unite

Oct. 6, 2012

Seoul to announce missile pact revision as early as Sunday

 Seoul reportedly plans to announce its agreement with Washington on revising a bilateral ballistic missile pact as early as Sunday. The revision is to allow South Korea to develop ballistic missiles with a range of up to 800 km, up from the previous 300 km, so as to better deal with missile threats from North Korea, reports say. The weight of the payload is to remain at the current 500 kg. “(Seou

Oct. 6, 2012

U.S. military to bring in precision-guided 'Excalibur' shells

The U.S. military in South Korea plans to bring in precision-guided "Excalibur" shells capable of striking artillery batteries in North Korea by the end of the year, a military source said Thursday.The U.S. 2nd Infantry Division and South Korea's Agency for Defense Development successfully conducted a test-firing of the Excalibur shell in May, the source said. The U.S. forces also plan to addition

Oct. 4, 2012

Tough negotiations ahead in copter project

Korea is likely to face tough price negotiations for its planned purchase of advanced attack helicopters, with costs currently appearing almost double the budget allocated for the project.The Defense Acquisition Program Administration plans to select the provider for 36 advanced military copters by late November. Boeing’s AH-64D Apache Longbow, Bell’s AH-1Z Cobra and Turkish Aerospace Industries/AgustaWestland’s T-129 choppers are competing for the deal. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Age

Sept. 27, 2012