North Korea has renewed a threat to conduct an atmospheric nuclear test over the Pacific Ocean, fueling speculation as to when the reclusive regime will break its longest hiatus in military provocations in recent months. 　But experts here said Thursday such a test is unlikely to happen, citing complicated risks involved. Some suggested that the North’s military inaction since Sept. 15 missile launch may reflect its dilemma over whether or not to sustain the level of military tensions with th

North Korea Oct. 26, 2017

　South Korea, the United States and Japan on Tuesday began a two-day missile warning drill to better detect and track incoming missiles in the event of a possible North Korean attack. 　According to Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, the joint military exercise took place in waters off the coasts of South Korea and Japan. Included in the drill were the Aegis destroyer Yulgok Yii of South Korea, the USS Stethem and USS Decatur Aegis destroyers from the US, and a JDS Kirishima destroyer from Japan.　The

Defense Oct. 24, 2017

　South Korea’s Air Force on Friday announced a plan to establish a new surveillance unit by the end of this year, which it said would boost the capability to detect any preparations in North Korea for nuclear and missile attacks. 　The envisioned “Air Intelligence Wing,” to be formed by Dec. 1, will have a task organization and mission largely based on those of the 37th tactical intelligence group located in US Osan air base, it said. 　Employing Global Hawk high-altitude surveillance drones and S

Defense Oct. 20, 2017

North Korea warned it could stage an “unimaginable strike” against the United States at an unexpected time, ratcheting up its warlike rhetoric as South Korea and the US stage a joint naval exercise in waters off the Korean Peninsula. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency on Thursday, North Korea’s “emergency committee for opposing war drills” denounced the allies’ ongoing military exercise and US dispatch of strategic assets as an attempt to provoke another war on the peninsula.

North Korea Oct. 19, 2017

South Korea’s military on Thursday announced a plan to develop “Frankenmissile” to counter North Korea’s escalating missile and nuclear capabilities in a bid to overwhelm the North during the initial phase of the war. In its report to an annual parliamentary audit by the National Assembly’s Defense Committee, the Army said they would develop the “Hyunmoo IV” surface-to-surface missile, powerful enough to destroy North Korea’s underground military facilities and command center. Combined with indi

Defense Oct. 19, 2017

South Korea’s Marine Corps on Thursday announced a plan to establish a new command dedicated to protecting border islands, pledging to defend the sea border against North Korea’s potential attacks and infiltration attempts. In its report to a parliamentary audit Thursday, the Marine Corps said the new command will be built around 2020 and based on the current Northwestern Island Defense Command. It was formed in 2011 following North Korea’s artillery attack on Yeongpyeong Island, one of the farm

Defense Oct. 19, 2017

Former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Wednesday slammed President Donald Trump for engaging in a war of words with North Korea, calling it a “dangerous and short-sighted” move that will only benefit North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un and eventually undermine US credibility. Clinton, who also served as US Secretary of State, stressed the need for more pressure on North Korea and a diplomatic approach to bring the regime to talks, calling on China to play a more proactive role in enfor

Defense Oct. 18, 2017

With North Korea taking a halt in a series of military provocations and the United States senior officials stressing the need for diplomatic approach, speculation has emerged that the two sides may seek negotiations. But the prospect of a breakthrough in a monthslong military standoff over Pyongyang’s nuclear programs appears to remain slim as Pyongyang and Washington have significant gaps over under what conditions they can resume talks with neither side wanting to narrow the difference for now

North Korea Oct. 17, 2017

With South Korea and the US kicking off their joint military exercise in a show of force against North Korea, Washington’s senior security and diplomacy officials have reiterated assertive stance against Pyongyang while remaining open to diplomatic solutions to calm the tension. National Security Adviser Gen. H.R. McMaster said President Donald Trump would never allow Pyongyang to threaten the US with a nuclear weapon and that the US has been constantly refining military options against Pyongyan

Defense Oct. 16, 2017

　With South Korea and the US militaries staging a joint naval drill this week, tension is expected to heighten on the Korean Peninsula amid worries that North Korea might carry out another provocation to protest against the show of force. 　Starting from Monday, the allies kick off a five-day joint naval exercise in the waters east and west of the peninsula. The exercise involves nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its carrier strike group.　North Korea, which has renewed the th

North Korea Oct. 15, 2017

 South Korea and the United States will next month endorse a draft plan to establish a new command structure that will be applied when Seoul takes back wartime operational control of its country’s troops from Washington, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said Thursday. 　The scheme will be approved when the allies’ defense leaders hold their annual Military Committee Meeting and Security Consultative Meeting from Oct. 27-28 in Seoul, said the ministry in a report submitted to lawmakers during the first pa

Defense Oct. 12, 2017

 　North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs are all over the news globally, but the country also has one low-profile tactic designed to bring significant disruption to its adversaries: hacktivism.　A South Korean lawmaker revealed Monday that the regime’s hackers had hacked into South Korea’s military network and snatched a trove of the allies’ wartime operational plans, including a “decapitation strike” scheme against the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. 　The Pentagon stressed a day later the c

North Korea Oct. 11, 2017

Suspicions that South Korea’s classified wartime operational plan may now be in the hands of the North Korean army continued to roil South Korea on Tuesday after a lawmaker revealed more disturbing details about the alleged North Korean hacking of South Korea’s military network system last year. 　According to Rep. Rhee Chul-hee of the ruling Democratic Party, a trove of operational schemes drafted by the South Korea and the US militaries were leaked by hackers of North Korean origin, who breache

North Korea Oct. 10, 2017

　South Korea’s arms maker Hanhwa Techwin has showcased a self-propelled howitzer in a major international trade show of weapons currently taking place in Washington, the US, the Seoul-based company said Monday.  　The K-9 Thunder was displayed at the 2017 Annual Meeting & Exposition of the Association of the United States Army, which is one of the biggest international military exhibitions in the Americas. It will run through Wednesday, local time. 　“South Korea has been an importer of US weapons

Defense Oct. 9, 2017

　South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Monday that it plans to use artificial intelligence in military operations to assist battle commanders in making informed decisions during a combat.　The ministry is seeking to develop the AI-based system by 2025 to support commanders’ decision-making process. The envisioned system will be distributed to front-line units following extensive field tests. 　Once it becomes operational, commanders will be able to rely on the intelligence provided by AI to come up

Defense Oct. 9, 2017