Military closely following activities at NK missile facilities: defense ministry

The military is closely monitoring movements at North Korea's missile facilities but no unusual signs have been detected as of now, the defense ministry said Thursday. On Tuesday, Gen. Glen VanHerck, commander of US Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, said Pyongyang may resume its long-range missile testing to check the capability of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) unveiled at an October military parade. "There is no unusual movement detected as

March 18, 2021

S. Korea, US set to wrap up springtime combined exercise amid COVID-19, NK protest

South Korea and the United States were set Thursday to wrap up their nine-day springtime combined military exercise staged in a scaled-back manner due to the coronavirus pandemic and peace efforts with North Korea, officials said. The computer-simulated Combined Command Post Training (CCPT), which began on March 8, involved a "minimum level" of troops compared with previous ones, and no outdoor drills took place, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). "We are to wrap up t

March 18, 2021

US reels in S. Korea to push back against N. Korea, China

The alliance between the US and South Korea is key to addressing North Korea and a rising China, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Wednesday at his first in-person talks with South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook in Seoul. “Given the unprecedented challenges posed by both the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and China, the US-ROK alliance has never been more important,” Austin said, referring to Seoul’s official name, Republic of Korea. DPRK is Pyongyang&rsquo

March 17, 2021

Arms procurement agency chief visits Indonesia to attend submarine handing-over ceremony

The head of South Korea's arms procurement agency on Wednesday attended a ceremony in Indonesia to mark the handing over of a 1,400-ton submarine to its navy, his office said. The 61-meter submarine, dubbed Alugoro, was the third unit South Korea delivered to Indonesia under a 1.3 trillion-won (US$1.15 billion) contract in 2011 to export three submarines to the Southeast Asian country, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co

March 17, 2021

3 Army soldiers, Navy civilian employee test positive for virus

Three Army soldiers and a Navy civilian worker have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Wednesday. The Navy employee in the southeastern port city of Pohang and an Army officer in Seoul were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 after their respective family members were found infected, according to the ministry. Another officer in Namyangju, northeast of Seoul, tested positive after coming into contact with a civilian who tested positive earlier, while a soldier

March 17, 2021

Pentagon chief arrives in S. Korea for talks on alliance, N. Korea

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in South Korea on Wednesday to discuss a range of bilateral and global issues, such as North Korea and the wartime operational control transfer, officials said. Austin arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, from Japan on the day for a three-day stay as part of his first Asia swing since taking office in January. He is the first Cabinet-level US official of the Biden administration to visit the country. US Secretary of State Antony

March 17, 2021

Defense minister expresses regret over N. Korea's criticism of military exercises

South Korean Defense Minister Suh Wook said Tuesday North Korea's criticism of Seoul's military exercise with the United States was "regrettable." Suh made the remark at a parliamentary hearing hours after Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, threatened to scrap an inter-Korean military agreement over the combined exercise by the allies. "I find criticism of a defensive and annual exercise regrettable," Suh said. Asked about the possibility that Nor

March 16, 2021

3 more soldiers in Sejong test positive for COVID-19

Three soldiers based in the central city of Sejong have tested positive for the new coronavirus, the defense ministry said Tuesday. They were confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 in a test required to exit quarantine after coming into contact with a colleague who tested positive earlier, according to the ministry. Since the first case was reported earlier this month, the unit in Sejong, some 120 kilometers south of Seoul, has reported a total of 12 cases. The total number of infections repo

March 16, 2021

US soldier at Camp Humphreys tests positive for COVID-19

An American service member at a US military base in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, has tested positive for the new coronavirus, US Forces Korea (USFK) said Tuesday. The soldier at US Army Garrison Humphreys was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 on Sunday following USFK's surveillance testing program, according to the US military. The soldier has been on a shelter-in-place status since Saturday and is currently at an isolation facility for confirmed patients. "KDCA and USF

March 16, 2021

US seeks stronger alliances to balance China in Seoul trip

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday they expect to forge stronger alliances with South Korea and Japan to resolve global security challenges and counter an assertive China, in their trip to Seoul on Wednesday and Thursday, which immediately follows a visit to Tokyo. “Our diplomats and defense leaders strategize together on how to confront shared threats such as North Korea’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs,” the to

March 15, 2021

5 military members test positive for COVID-19

An Air Force officer, two Army draftees and two civilian workers for the military have tested positive for the new coronavirus over the weekend, the defense ministry said Monday. The officer stationed in the southeastern city of Daegu was confirmed to have been infected in a test required to exit quarantine, as he has been in isolation after one of his family members tested positive earlier, according to the ministry. One Army draftee in the border town of Goseong and the other one in Yeonche

March 15, 2021

3 service members test positive for COVID-19

Two military officers and a draftee tested positive for the new coronavirus, the latest in a series of confirmed cases at barracks across the country, the defense ministry said Friday. One Army officer stationed in the central city of Sejong was confirmed to have been infected in a test required to exit quarantine. He has been in isolation after coming into contact with a colleague who earlier tested positive, according to the ministry. The Sejong unit has reported nine COVID-19 cases until no

March 12, 2021

No plan to deploy new anti-missile assets in S. Korea: USFK

The US Forces Korea (USFK) said Friday its commander's recent remark on a plan to build new missile defense capabilities on the Korean Peninsula does not involve the introduction of new equipment or units. Gen. Robert Abrams said Wednesday that the United States will deploy two "specific" anti-ballistic missile capabilities in South Korea this year in addition to one that is already in place. His remarks raised speculation that the US might be considering bringing in an additional Ter

March 12, 2021

US soldier at Camp Humphreys tests positive for COVID-19

An American service member stationed at a US military base in South Korea has tested positive for the new coronavirus, the US Forces Korea (USFK) said Friday. The soldier at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, was confirmed to have contracted COVID-19 on Tuesday in a virus test conducted prior to a permanent change of station travel to the United States, according to the USFK. The soldier last visited the base Tuesday and Osan Air Base, also in Pyeongtaek, on Sunday, an

March 12, 2021

N. Korean threat persists amid continued pursuit of weapons: USFK commander

North Korea continues to pose a serious threat to the United States and its ally South Korea as Pyongyang pursues a nuclear arsenal and other weapons of mass destruction, the commander of US Forces Korea (USFK) has said. Gen. Robert Abrams also said Wednesday that the US troops in Korea stand ready to defend South Korea from any threat, noting that the US will deploy two additional "specific" anti-ballistic missile capabilities in South Korea this year. "There have been no inter

March 11, 2021

S. Korea agrees to pay 13.9% more from 2019 to host US troops

South Korea has agreed to raise its payment for stationing US troops here by 13.9 percent this year from 2019, the foreign ministry said Wednesday, in a six-year deal with the United States that cleared the way for the countries to cement their alliance. Under the deal that will last until 2025, Seoul is to pay 1.183 trillion won ($1.03 billion) this year, up from 1.038 trillion won in 2019 -- the first double-digit rise since 2002 -- for the upkeep of the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea (USFK).

March 10, 2021

USFK to administer J&J COVID-19 vaccine in addition to Moderna

The US Forces Korea (USFK) said Wednesday that it has received the first shipment of the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine to administer to its members in addition to Moderna's, a move expected to speed up its inoculation program. In December, the USFK began its vaccination campaign with the Moderna vaccine in line with its government's guidance, with the first group of recipients including health care workers, first responders and mission critical service members. The United St

March 10, 2021

SMA deal reflects S. Korea, US desire to focus on issues like NK: Knapper

South Korea and the United States' recent agreement on a new defense cost-sharing deal reflects the two countries' commitment to strengthening their alliance and a desire to focus on issues like North Korea, a US diplomat said Wednesday. Marc Knapper, deputy assistant secretary of state for Korea and Japan, made the remark in a webinar days after Seoul and Washington reached a six-year deal, called the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), on how to share the cost for stationing the 28,500-strong U

March 10, 2021

S. Korea, US supposed to stage joint outdoor drills throughout year: defense ministry

South Korea and the United States are supposed to stage combined outdoor military drills throughout the year, not during specific periods of time, Seoul's defense ministry said Tuesday. Ministry spokesperson Boo Seung-chan made the remarks in an answer to a reporter's question about when and how the two sides would stage joint real maneuvers this year as their ongoing springtime exercise does not include such outdoor programs. "After the summit between the US and North Korea in Singapore

March 9, 2021

S. Korea calls on NK to take 'wise, flexible' approach toward military exercise with US

The unification ministry urged North Korea to take a "wise and flexible" approach toward a springtime combined military exercise that South Korea and the United States kicked off in a scaled-back manner Monday. North Korea has long demanded an end to the joint military drills between the two allies, denouncing them as a rehearsal for invasion. During a rare party congress in January, leader Kim Jong-un repeated such calls, citing it as a crucial matter to improve inter-Korean ties.

March 8, 2021