The Korea Herald

Support programs for Cheonan survivors

A foundation established last year to honor the 46 sailors killed in North Korea’s torpedo attack on the corvette Cheonan is to begin several support programs this week for survivors of the disaster.The foundation, named “Cheonan-ham Foundation,” will offer 5 million won ($4,480) to each of the 58 survivors during a ceremony Friday in Seoul, officials said.The ceremony will also see the launch of

Politics Jan. 17, 2011

U.S. opens door to N.K. engagement

Gates warns Pyongyang to renounce hostilityU.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday that “diplomatic engagement” with North Korea, starting with direct inter-Korean dialogue, is possible as a next step to deal with the belligerent communist state.“With regard to next steps on North Korea, diplomatic engagement is possible, starting with direct engagement between DPRK (North Korea) and the S

Politics Jan. 14, 2011

Defense procurer toughens vetting of military equipment

Blocking defects in weapons and military equipment is to be a key goal of South Korea’s military acquisition agency this year, the agency said on Thursday.This goal is apparently aimed at addressing public concerns over several military accidents due to flaws in military supplies and equipment in recent years.The Defense Acquisition Program Administration also said that it would seek this year to

Politics Jan. 13, 2011

K-21 armored vehicles back in use

K-21 armored vehicles will return to military use in April after defects that sank two of them in 2009 and last year were fixed, an official at the military acquisition agency said Thursday.After it sank during a river-crossing training session in July, killing one solider, the domestically-built K-21, which was touted as a high-tech amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, was found to have a series

Politics Jan. 13, 2011

Air Force, Navy to get more ministry, JCS representation

General-level officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force are expected to equally share key decision-making posts at the Defense Ministry and the Joint Chiefs of Staff by the end of next year, a government source said Wednesday.The move is aimed at enhancing interoperability among the three armed services and addressing the Army’s dominance in the military’s decision-making processes, which has lon

Politics Jan. 12, 2011

Bills aim to strengthen status of Marine Corps

A ruling party lawmaker is planning to submit to parliament three revision bills this week that would offer more independence to the Marine Corps, which was merged into the Navy in 1973.The move comes as the need for the Marines’ independence from the Navy has been voiced following North Korea’s artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island in November that killed two marines and two civilians. Rep. Chung

Politics Jan. 12, 2011

Military minces words on reform

Generals are still too attached to decorations, outfitsWithdrawing the plan to detach the star-studded plates from military generals’ sedans has prompted concerns over whether the top brass’ reform drive is eroding.At the beginning of this year, the Army leadership asked generals to remove the plates ― a longtime symbol of their pride and authority ― displaying its strong resolve to revamp the mil

Politics Jan. 11, 2011

Military academies may merge ceremonies

The Ministry of National Defense is seeking to hold a joint commission ceremony for all military academies, officials said Tuesday.The move is aimed at reducing the cost of holding all the ceremonies separately. It is also in line with military efforts to curtail administrative procedures and enhance interoperability among the Army, Navy and Air Force, the officials said.According to the plan unde

Politics Jan. 11, 2011

S. Korea, Japan agree to expand military ties after N.K. attacks

South Korean and Japanese defense ministers agreed to “expand and deepen” bilateral military cooperation during talks in Seoul on Monday, amid heightened tensions following a series of deadly North Korean attacks last year.Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his Japanese counterpart Toshimi Kitazawa also exchanged views on regional security issues including North Korean nuclear threats, the Ministry

Politics Jan. 10, 2011

S. Korea, Japan agree to expand military ties after N.K. attacks

Army marks dispatch of UAE contingent

The Army held a ceremony Monday marking the creation and dispatch of a South Korean contingent to the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday a two-year mission to help train the Middle East country’s special forces.The dispatch of the 130-strong contingent, named “Akh,” “brothers” in Arabic, follows the UAE’s request last August that South Korea help it nurture world-class special warfare troops.The Seou

Politics Jan. 10, 2011

N.K. has multiple motives behind dialogue overtures

Pyongyang’s overtures for dialogue with Seoul appear aimed at securing outside assistance to ease its economic travails and escape international isolation resulting from its belligerent behavior, experts here said on Sunday.Some also pointed out that the olive branch seems intended to show the U.S. that it is making due endeavors for the improvement of inter-Korean ties, a condition the U.S. has d

Politics Jan. 9, 2011

Former police chiefs to face summons

The prosecution is planning to summon two former top police officials early this week as part of its probe into an escalating bribery scandal regarding construction site catering contracts, sources said Sunday.The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office will question former National Police Agency chief Kang Hee-rak as early as Monday on suspicion of receiving some 100 million won ($88,840) in k

Politics Jan. 9, 2011

Park keeps lead in opinion polls of presidential hopefuls

Rep. Park Geun-hye, former chairwoman of the ruling Grand National Party, has maintained an overwhelming lead in all recent opinion polls on those hoping to run in the 2012 presidential election.However, observers say it remains to be seen whether Park will continue to remain the favorite in the polls, citing the possibility of her suffering an unexpected setback in the unstable political scene be

Politics Jan. 3, 2011

Park keeps lead in opinion polls of presidential hopefuls

Articles by Song Sangho