Military reports 28 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military on Wednesday reported 28 additional COVID-19 cases, including 25 breakthrough infections, raising the total caseload among its personnel to 3,360. Of the new cases, 14 are from the Army, nine from units under the direct control of the defense ministry, two from the Air Force, two from the Marine Corps and one from the Navy. Currently, 233 military personnel are under treatment. Of the total military caseload, 1,552 are breakthrough cases. (Yonhap)

Jan. 5, 2022

F-35A fighter makes emergency landing due to 'avionic system issues': Air Force

An F-35A fighter operated by South Korea's Air Force made an emergency landing during a training session Tuesday due to avionic system issues, with its pilot having emerged unscathed, officials said. The radar-evading jet made the belly landing on a runway at an air base in Seosan, 151 kilometers south of Seoul, at 12:51 p.m. after the issues caused the landing gear to momentarily malfunction, the officials said. The pilot walked away unscathed, they added. Before the landing, the Air Force m

Jan. 4, 2022

US says 'no changes' in allies' exercise plans: RFA

The US Department of Defense has said South Korea and the United States will proceed with their combined springtime exercise as previously agreed upon, according to Radio Free Asia. The statement by a Pentagon spokesperson came amid concerns that the exercise, if held, could dampen Seoul's efforts to resume dialogue with Pyongyang. The North has berated the allies' drills as a war rehearsal against it. "No changes to the training/exercise schedule as was discussed in the SCM," the sp

Jan. 4, 2022

S. Korean military launches branch dedicated to enhancing military space power

The South Korean military launched a new coordinating body to develop military space capabilities, as well as to plan and execute joint space operations, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff announced Monday “The Joint Chiefs of Staff established the Military Space Branch on Jan. 1 as a dedicated organization to lead our military’s development of military space capabilities,” the JCS said in a press statement, adding that the branch would play the role of “control

Jan. 3, 2022

JCS chief stresses 'basics and principles' in New Year's message before border breach

South Korea's top military officer has called for troops to stick to "basics and principles" in a New Year's message, his aide said Monday, a directive eclipsed by a botched effort to stop an unidentified person from crossing the inter-Korean border over the weekend. For delivery on the first week of the new year, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Won In-choul had the message ready on Friday, the day before the person crossed the heavily fortified border in what is decried as

Jan. 3, 2022

Military reports 8 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military on Monday reported eight additional COVID-19 cases, including seven breakthrough infections, raising the total caseload among its personnel to 3,311. Of the new cases, five are from the Army, one from the Navy, one from the Air Force and one from a unit under the direct control of the defense ministry. Currently, 240 military personnel are under treatment. Of the total military caseload, 1,507 are breakthrough cases. (Yonhap)

Jan. 3, 2022

Defense minister reiterates political neutrality ahead of March presidential poll

South Korea's Defense Minister Suh Wook reiterated calls Friday for military personnel to maintain political neutrality as rival parties are revving up preparations for the March 9 presidential election. Suh made the calls in his New Year's message that highlighted the Moon Jae-in administration's resolve to strengthen "across-the-board" national defense while trying to reduce cross-border tensions. "As the presidential election and local elections are slated for March and June,

Dec. 31, 2021

One Army soldier wounded in mine accident

An Army service member suffered an injury in a land mine explosion near the inter-Korean border Thursday, an official said. The detonator of the Claymore directional anti-personnel mine exploded at the front-line Army base in Yanggu, 175 kilometers northeast of Seoul, when the troops were inspecting their equipment. The soldier is currently receiving medical treatment, although the official said his injury does not appear to be life-threatening. The Army is currently investigating the exact c

Dec. 30, 2021

S. Korea starts construction of 2nd 3,600-ton-class SLBM submarine

South Korea has started the construction of a new 3,600-ton-class military submarine with improved ballistic missile capabilities, officials said Thursday. The second unit of Changbogo-III Batch-II class submarine, boasting advanced combat capabilities and sonar systems, is set to be built by 2026 and handed over to the Navy in 2028, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). It is expected to have 10 vertical launch tubes for submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLB

Dec. 30, 2021

S. Korea conducted Dokdo defense drills last week: source

South Korea conducted regular military drills to strengthen the defense of its easternmost islets of Dokdo last week, an informed source said Wednesday, amid lingering tensions caused by Japan's persistent claims to the East Sea outcroppings. The country's military staged the drills to ensure their readiness to fend off potential foreign infiltrations to the rocky outcroppings, the source said without elaborating on the exact date and the size of the participating troops. "(The military)

Dec. 29, 2021

Military reports 27 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military on Wednesday reported 27 additional COVID-19 cases, with all of them being breakthrough infections, raising the total caseload among its personnel to 3,207. Of the new cases, 13 are from the Army, seven from the Air Force, four from the Navy and three from units under direct control of the ministry. Currently, 257 military personnel are under treatment. Of the total military caseload, 1,411 are breakthrough cases. (Yonhap)

Dec. 29, 2021

S. Korea to begin project for solid-fuel space rocket next year

South Korea plans to embark on a civilian-military project next year to design a solid-fuel space launch vehicle under a broad initiative to develop the country's space defense industry, the state arms procurement agency said Tuesday. At a policy forum, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) unveiled the initiative consisting of 24 key tasks aimed at locally developing cutting-edge technologies, nurturing the space industry and strengthening civilian-military cooperation. The in

Dec. 28, 2021

Military reports 28 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military on Tuesday reported 28 additional COVID-19 cases, including 27 breakthrough infections, raising the total caseload among its personnel to 3,181. Of the new cases, 15 are from the Army, seven from the Navy, four from the Air Force and two from the Marine Corps, according to the defense ministry. Currently, 268 military personnel are under treatment. Of the total military caseload, 1,385 are breakthrough cases. (Yonhap)

Dec. 28, 2021

Navy to receive upgraded destroyer with stronger anti-sub capabilities

The Navy will receive an upgraded destroyer Tuesday, after nearly a year of refurbishment aimed at strengthening anti-submarine and other capabilities, the state arms procurement agency said. The 3,200-ton KDX-I destroyer, Eulji Mundeok, was sent for the upgrade in January. It is now equipped with the latest towed array sonar system designed to reinforce anti-submarine capabilities, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said. The destroyer is the third and last vessel to be ret

Dec. 28, 2021

S. Korea's military to deploy homegrown surveillance drones by 2031

South Korea‘s military approved a plan Monday to locally develop and deploy a reconnaissance and surveillance drone by 2031 to better defend the country’s northwestern border islands, the state arms procurement agency said. The Defense Project Promotion Committee endorsed the project worth 570 billion won ($479 million) for the drone designed to be operated aboard Navy warships and by Marine Corps units on front-line islands, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administra

Dec. 27, 2021

New war plans don’t target China’s regional military activities: Seoul

South Korea’s Defense Ministry on Monday publicly dismissed a former US Forces Korea commander’s opinion that China’s growing military activities and presence in the region should be a key consideration in updating military operational plans. Boo Seung-chan, the ministry’s spokesperson, elucidated that the South Korean and US defense chiefs agreed on a new Strategic Planning Guidance, “reflecting changes to the strategic environment on the Korean Peninsula.”

Dec. 27, 2021

Military reports 33 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military on Monday reported 33 additional COVID-19 cases, including 31 breakthrough infections, raising the total caseload among its personnel to 3,153. Of the new cases, 11 are from the Navy, nine from the Army, eight from the Air Force, and five from units under the direct control of the defense ministry. Currently, 278 military personnel are under treatment. Of the total military caseload, 1,358 are breakthrough cases. (Yonhap)

Dec. 27, 2021

S. Korea inks deal to mass-produce advanced ground communication devices

South Korea has signed a contract to mass-produce ground communication devices for joint operations with the military's new satellite launched last year, the arms procurement agency said Monday. Under the deal, two local defense firms -- LIG Nex1 Co. and Hanwha Systems Co. -- will produce eight different ground-based communication devices through 2025 with a budget of 888.5 billion won ($748.5 million), according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The military launched i

Dec. 27, 2021

Military reports 25 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's defense ministy on Saturday reported 25 additional COVID-19 cases, with 24 of them being breakthrough infections, raising the total caseload in the military to 3,089. Of the new cases, five are from the Army, 13 from the Navy, five from the Air Force, two from units under the direct control of the defense ministry. Of the total military caseload, 1,297 are breakthrough cases. The military plans to complete its booster shot program, which began last Monday, by Jan. 14. (Yonhap)

Dec. 25, 2021

Military reports 37 more COVID-19 cases

South Korea's military on Friday reported 37 additional COVID-19 cases, including 30 breakthrough infections, raising the total caseload among its personnel to 3,064. Of the new cases, 24 are from the Army, six from the Navy, four from the Air Force, two from units under the direct control of the defense ministry and one from the Marine Corps, the ministry said. Currently, 286 military personnel are under treatment. Of the total military caseload, 1,273 are breakthrough cases. (Yonhap)

Dec. 24, 2021