Four military security personnel arrested on hacking charges

Four military personnel were arrested this month on charges of hacking into e-mails of a professor at Chosun University in the southeastern city of Gwangju, military investigators said Monday.The Criminal Investigation Command under the Defense Ministry said that security operatives broke into the e-mails of Gi Gwang-seo, political science professor at the university, and downloaded nearly 700 documents in early September.This incident has drawn attention as speculation has risen that military s

Oct. 31, 2011

Full text of joint communique of ROK-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting

SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- The following is the full text of the joint communique issued after the 43rd South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul Friday.1. The 43rd Republic of Korea-United States Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) was held in Seoul on October 28, 2011. ROK Minister o

Oct. 28, 2011

S. Korea, U.S. agree to prepare joint operational plan against N. Korea

SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- Defense chiefs of South Korea and the U.S. on Friday agreed to pursue a joint operational plan to counter potential provocations by North Korea at their annual bilateral security meeting in Seoul.After the 43rd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), South Korean Defense Mini

Oct. 28, 2011

U.S. defense secretary visits S. Korea

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in South Korea Wednesday for the first time for an annual bilateral security meeting.Panetta will meet with his South Korean counterpart Kim Kwan-jin at the 43rd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) on Friday and will also pay a c

Oct. 26, 2011

Defense chiefs of South Korea, U.S. to hold security talks

The two defense chiefs of South Korea and the U.S. will hold their annual security meeting in Seoul on Friday to discuss regional security and pending bilateral military alliance issues, officials at the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday.During the 43rd Security Consultative Meeting, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his U.S. counterpart Leon Panetta will also touch on ways to enhance joint deterrence against North Korea.The allies have alternately held the meeting since 1968 to deal wit

Oct. 25, 2011

Concern rises over T-50 export after U.S. deferral

The U.S. Defense Acquisition Board’s deferral last week of its decision on whether to acquire new trainer jets from overseas has prompted concern here about the export of Korea’s T-50 supersonic aircraft.The Korean aviation industry and government officials paid keen attention to what decision the DAB would make at its Oct. 21 session. They believe that the T-50 is one of the strongest contenders for the U.S. trainer procurement project. With technological assistance from U.S. defense giant Lock

Oct. 25, 2011

Speculation rises over possible reduction of U.S. troops here

Attention is being drawn to whether there would be any U.S. troop drawdown here on the Korean Peninsula should the U.S. slash its defense budget as part of a deficit reduction plan.As U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is to come here for the annual South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting slated for Friday, speculations abound that discussions over it could take place.The U.S. defense budget faces cuts of up to $350 billion over the next decade. Observers have thought that Washington mig

Oct. 24, 2011

U.S. military presence in Asia to remain firm despite budget cut: Panetta

BALI, Indonesia, Oct. 24 (Yonhap) -- Making his first trip to Asia as U.S. defense chief, Leon Panetta sought to dispel concern that Washington's plan to slash its defense budget in the coming years would diminish its military presence and operations in Asia."Our goal is to try to strengthen the all

Oct. 24, 2011

Military worker involved in e-mail hacking

Another senior military worker was found to have collaborated in a recent hacking incident, officials at the Defense Ministry said Thursday, fueling speculation that military operatives have illegally monitored civilians.Military investigators also arrested an Army warrant officer on Tuesday, on sus

Oct. 20, 2011

European consortium of Typhoon fighter jet offers technology transfer to S. Korea

MUNICH/MADRID (Yonhap News) -- With South Korea scheduled to select the winner of its project for 60 new fighter jets next fall, the European consortium of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft has offered to fully share its technology with its South Korean partners.Germany, Spain, Italy and Britain are part

Oct. 19, 2011

Defense Ministry expands budget for cyber defense

The national budget to protect defense systems against cyber attacks has been increased for next year amid increasing threats, the defense ministry said Tuesday.The ministry said in a statement that the budget allocated for defending defense information for next year has been pegged at 25.8 billion

Oct. 18, 2011

S. Korea to hold 1st meeting to address U.S. military crimes

South Korea’s inter-government task force to better deal with crimes by American soldiers will hold its first meeting this week, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. The task force, consisting of senior officials from the foreign ministry, police, the defense ministry and the South Korea-U.S.Combined

Oct. 18, 2011

S. Korea developing vertical take-off plane: official

SEOUL, Oct. 17 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is developing a new type of aircraft that can take off and land vertically to conduct reconnaissance missions, Seoul's top procurement official said Monday.Noh Dae-rae, head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), said at a local seminar that

Oct. 17, 2011

JCS chief to attend regional defense meeting

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Han Min-koo will participate in the annual conference of top military officers from the Asia-Pacific region this week in Hawaii to discuss regional military issues, officials said Sunday.Before joining the Chiefs of Defense meeting from Tuesday to Thursda

Oct. 16, 2011

208 military NCOs killed selves since 2000

More than 200 low-ranking commissioned and non-commissioned officers have committed suicide since 2000, a local civic group said Tuesday, calling for immediate measures to alleviate mental and physical stress in the military.Citing a recent Defense Ministry report, the Center for Military Human Righ

Oct. 11, 2011