Full-scale inspection begins over S. Korea’s Hyunmoo missile malfunction

After a two-month long initial inter-agency investigation, the South Korean military announced during a closed-door briefing Thursday the outcome regarding the malfunction of a Hyunmoo 2-C ballistic missile. Further full-scale inspections to determine the precise cause of the accident will occur December to March next year. The military will focus on examining missile navigation, control and guidance systems during the inspections. The Hyunmoo 2-C ballistic missile crashed into a golf course loc

Dec. 16, 2022

What will US Space Forces Korea do?

By Ji Da-gyum and Joint Press Corps The US Space Forces Korea, mainly tasked with operating space-based assets and detecting and tracking missile launches, was officially launched on Wednesday amid escalating missile threats from North Korea. The US Space Force activated its overseas component field command in South Korea, a subordinate unit to the newly established US Space Forces Indo-Pacific as well as a sub-unified command of the US Forces Korea (USFK). The US Space Forces Korea (

Dec. 14, 2022

Veterans Ministry reveals freedom fighters for 2023

The Veterans Ministry on Wednesday revealed 34 independence fighters who led military as well as diplomatic campaigns against Japan during its 1910-45 colonial occupation of Korea -- a list that includes the Korean-born US soldier who inspired “Mr. Sunshine,” a hit drama series that aired on tvN in 2018. The list -- made public monthly since 1992 to raise awareness of independence efforts -- includes all the freedom fighters to honor for each month of next year, according to the Mini

Dec. 14, 2022

[Herald Interview] S.Korea seeks to localize defense systems to deter N.Korean threats

South Korea is developing homegrown combat weapons, defense and surveillance systems to enhance the military’s deterrence and readiness posture against mounting and persisting North Korean threats, the head of South Korea’s state arms procurement agency told The Korea Herald. The expeditious completion of the homegrown three-axis defense system — which consists of the Kill Chain preemptive strike mechanism, the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) and the Korea Massive Punishme

Dec. 13, 2022

Arms agency signs deal with LIG Nex1 to develop new counter-artillery radar by 2026

South Korea's state arms procurement agency signed a 30 billion-won ($23 million) contract with a local firm Monday to develop an advanced counter-artillery radar system by 2026, officials said. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration inked the deal with LIG Nex1 for the project aimed at replacing aging radars used by the Army and the Marine Corps -- the TPQ-36 and 37. The project seeks to develop a radar with enhanced capabilities, such as simultaneously detecting twice the number o

Dec. 12, 2022

S. Korea to begin development of homegrown air-launched guided missile

South Korea will embark on a 190 billion-won ($146 million) project Monday to locally develop a long-range air-to-ground guided missile by 2028, the state arms procurement agency said. The missile, which will be the country's first domestically developed air-launched one, is to be fitted onto the homegrown KF-21 fighter jet under development, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. The missile, if developed, will serve as a core asset for South Korea's three-axis d

Dec. 12, 2022

S. Korea, US and other countries begin 'Christmas Drop' operation

The Air Forces of South Korea, the United States and three other countries have kicked off an annual US-led humanitarian operation to deliver medicine and other basic necessities to remote Pacific islands ahead of the Christmas season, officials here said Monday. Hosted by the US Pacific Air Forces, the Operation Christmas Drop got under way on Sunday to send clothes and other necessities to residents of Micronesia. Australia, New Zealand and Japan are also participating in the mission set to ru

Dec. 5, 2022

[Photo News] Little Angels marks 60th year

Performers with the Little Angels staged a show titled "The Flight of Angels" at Sejong Center for Performing Arts in Seoul, Thursday. The show was directed to deliver a message for world peace as well as commemorate the troupe's 60th anniversary. (Im Se-jun/The Korea Herald)

Dec. 2, 2022

S. Korea expands space operations unit amid escalating NK threats

South Korea’s Air Force said Thursday it had expanded its space operations unit to enhance interoperability between the South Korean and US space forces against air and missile threats from North Korea. The launch of the “Space Operations Squadron” aims to strengthen the South Korean Air Force’s “capabilities to conduct space operations in practice," it said. The squadron will surveil space objects and send alerts concerning space threats, it said in a statemen

Dec. 1, 2022

S. Korean Air Force to join US-led multinational humanitarian operation

South Korea's Air Force said Tuesday it will participate in a US-led multinational humanitarian operation in Guam, an effort to enhance its airlift and other operational capabilities. It sent a C-130 transport plane and around 30 service members to Operation Christmas Drop, an annual event that the US Pacific Air Forces is set to host at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam from Tuesday through Dec. 12. Launched in 1952, the operation is the US military's longest-running airlift mission des

Nov. 29, 2022

Yoon warns of unprecedented response if N. Korea conducts nuclear test

President Yoon Suk-yeol said any new nuclear test by North Korea will be met with an international response "not seen in the past" and called on China to play a greater role to deter the North's provocations. Yoon made the remarks in an interview with Reuters, released Tuesday, amid growing concerns the North could conduct its seventh nuclear test after a series of recent missile launches. Should the North forge ahead with a test, Yoon vowed a response "not seen in the past&q

Nov. 29, 2022

Air Force brigadier general demoted for mishandling sexual abuse case

An Air Force brigadier general has been demoted by one rank to colonel for mishandling a sexual assault case that led to the suicide death of a female soldier, military sources said Saturday. Jeon Ik-soo, the chief legal affairs officer of the Air Force, became the first general officer to be reduced in rank in about 40 years. The defense ministry passed the rare disciplinary measure on Nov. 18 and President Yoon Suk-yeol approved it Tuesday, they said. Jeon was among several Air Force officers

Nov. 26, 2022

Yoon cites defense industry as future growth engine

President Yoon Suk-yeol has vowed to actively support defense exports, touting the sector as a "future new growth engine” and “driving force for high-tech industries” during his visit to the nation’s leading arms firms on Thursday. South Korea, which has boosted its defense capabilities to curb threats from the North, has now become the No. 8 weapon seller, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Yoon set the goal of ranking fourth last m

Nov. 24, 2022

Defense chief calls for int'l support to induce N. Korea to give up nukes

South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup has asked for international support to help induce North Korea to abandon its nuclear program and return to dialogue during a regional defense forum in Cambodia, his ministry said Thursday. Lee made the appeal Wednesday at a key session of the ninth Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Siem Reap, Cambodia. It was attended by top defense officials of ASEAN member countries and others, including the United States,

Nov. 24, 2022

S. Korean defense chief calls on China to play 'constructive' role over NK threats

South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup asked China Wednesday to play a "constructive" role in addressing North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and encouraging its return to dialogue during talks with his Chinese counterpart, Seoul's defense ministry said. Lee met bilaterally with Beijing's Defense Minister Wei Fenghe in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on the margins of the three-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), which ends Thur

Nov. 23, 2022

N. Korean leader's sister denounces UNSC's 'double standards' over council meeting on recent ICBM launch

The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un bristled Tuesday at this week's UN Security Council meeting on Pyongyang's recent intercontinental ballistic missile launch, accusing the council of applying "double standards." In a statement carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency, Kim Yo-jong took issue with the council's open meeting held on Monday (New York time) to discuss the North's launch of a Hwasong-17 ICBM on Friday. "The UNSC has turned blind eyes to

Nov. 22, 2022

Defense chiefs of S. Korea, Australia discuss bilateral security cooperation

The defense chiefs of South Korea and Australia held talks in Cambodia on Tuesday to discuss bilateral cooperation in the arms industry and other security areas, Seoul's defense ministry said. Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and his Australian counterpart, Richard Marles, met in Siem Reap on the sidelines of the three-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus, which ends Thursday. They agreed to push to bolster people-to-people exchanges in the defense sector, i

Nov. 22, 2022

[Advertorial] What does it mean to have perfect scores on your Advanced Placement test?

At Seoul International School (SIS), we have the great privilege of having immensely talented students across diverse disciplines, from academics to sports, music, arts, forensics, community service, and more. Last year alone, five students scored perfect scores on Advance Placement tests. They are Jin Wook Shin ('23) in Physics I, Clare Hyunsuh Kim ('23), Abigail Kim ('22) and Rachel Lee ('22) in Drawing, and Hyunseo Yoo ('22) in 2D Design. To put this in perspective,

Nov. 22, 2022

S. Korea succeeds in L-SAM missile intercepting test: military

South Korea has conducted a successful missile interception test of its L-SAM system under development, a key element of the country's envisioned layered missile defense shield called the Korea Air and Missile Defense designed to counter advancing threats from North Korea, according to military officials here Tuesday. The L-SAM, or Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile, is aimed at shooting down ballistic missiles at the altitude of 50-60 kilometers, similar to the Terminal High Altitude Area D

Nov. 22, 2022

N.Korea fires ballistic missile after warning US, allies of ‘fierce’ tit-for-tat

North Korea on Thursday fired a ballistic missile off its east coast, after the country warned it would take “fierce” military action against US efforts to strengthen its extended deterrence posture against Pyongyang. A short-range ballistic missile was fired from an area around the coastal city of Wonsan in Kangwon Province toward the East Sea at around 10:48 a.m. local time, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement. The short-range ballistic missile traveled ab

Nov. 17, 2022