S. Korean, Japanese defense chiefs to hold first talks in 4 years in Singapore

The South Korean and Japanese defense chiefs are scheduled to hold a one-on-one meeting Sunday, marking the first such meeting since 2019, on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Asia’s largest defense summit, which takes place from Friday to Sunday, will serve as the stage for both Seoul and Tokyo to engage in discussions on future-oriented approaches to address pending security issues amid escalating North Korean threats, South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Friday

June 1, 2023

[From the Scene] S. Korea’s L-SAM: vanguard of multilayered missile shield

TAEAN, South Chungcheong Province -- South Korea has made remarkable strides in enhancing its independent capabilities to effectively thwart escalating missile threats from North Korea. With resounding success, South Korea has concluded developmental tests of an indigenously developed long-range surface-to-air missile, better known as the L-SAM interceptor, which is tailored to destroy incoming enemy missiles at high altitudes. This accomplishment positions the country to establish a multi-tier

June 1, 2023

S. Korea succeeds in L-SAM missile interception test for 3rd time

South Korea succeeded in a test of a key homegrown missile interceptor under development earlier this week, the third such success out of four tests so far, as it is cranking up efforts to deter evolving North Korean threats. On Tuesday, the state-run Agency for Defense Development revealed to the press corps the whole process of the interception test on the Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile at its Anheung testing site in Taean, 109 kilometers southwest of Seoul, for the first time. The L-SAM is

June 1, 2023

US 'strongly condemns' N. Korea's space launch: White House

WASHINGTON -- The United States "strongly condemns" North Korea's attempt to launch a spy satellite into space, the White House said, calling it a "brazen violation" of multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. The statement issued by Adam Hodge, spokesperson of the White House National Security Council, added that US President Joe Biden and his national security team are "assessing the situation in close coordination with our allies and partners."

May 31, 2023

NSC condemns NK rocket launch as grave violation of UN resolutions

The National Security Council on Wednesday condemned North Korea's rocket launch as a grave violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a serious provocation threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula and beyond, the presidential office said. The presidential office convened an emergency NSC standing committee meeting led by National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong to discuss North Korea's "long-range ballistic missile launch under the pretext of a so-called satellite," it

May 31, 2023

N. Korean projectile may be failed launch: S. Korean military

A rocket launch detected from North Korea early Wednesday may have failed and Seoul is analyzing the issue, the South Korean military said. According to reports the rocket disappeared from South Korean authorities' radar before reaching a point in the trajectory the North had earlier announced. Seoul's military is currently analyzing the data for all possibilities including the projectile exploding and possible debris.

May 31, 2023

North Korea fires projectile, S. Korea on high alert

North Korea fired a projectile at about 6:32 a.m., South Korea’s military said Wednesday. The projectile, which the North claims is a space launch vehicle, was launched in the southwesterly direction, setting off warnings across regions in the South, including Seoul. President Yoon Suk Yeol called an emergency National Security Council meeting. The North had earlier announced that a space launch vehicle carrying a military satellite will be launched between May 31 and June 11. At about 6:5

May 31, 2023

S. Korea slams N. Korea's planned satellite launch, warns of consequences

South Korea on Monday "strongly warned" against North Korea's plan to launch a satellite in the coming weeks, vowing to make Pyongyang pay "due prices" if it goes ahead with the launch. "We strongly warn against North Korea's announcement of provocative actions that threaten regional peace and urge them to immediately withdraw their illegal launch plan," Lim Soo-suk, spokesperson of Seoul's foreign ministry, said in a statement. Lim warned the North will be made to

May 29, 2023

Japanese warship arrives in S. Korea for multinational WMD-interception naval drill

A Japanese warship arrived in South Korea on Monday to participate in a multinational naval drill this week aimed at preventing the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction, according to officials. Japan's JS Hamagiri destroyer arrived in the southeastern port city of Busan to participate in the Eastern Endeavor 23 exercise Wednesday in the international waters southeast of South Korea's Jeju Island. South Korea, the US, Australia, Japan, Canada and Singapore will join the exerci

May 29, 2023

US reconnaissance drones arrive at air base in Japan

The US Air Force started positioning unmanned reconnaissance aircraft at an air base in Japan earlier this month as part of a rotational deployment, the armed service has said. The RQ-4 Global Hawks began arriving at Yokota Air Base in Japan from Andersen Air Force Base in Guam last Monday, the US Pacific Air Forces said in a release Thursday. The rotational deployment came at a time when North Korea has completed preparations to launch its first military spy satellite. Last week, the North'

May 26, 2023

Military to mandate drug test of all enlistees, officials

The South Korean military will implement mandatory drug testing for all prospective and current enlistees and military officials, as part of efforts to combat the increasing drug-related crimes within and outside of the barracks. The Defense Ministry on Tuesday announced the new set of measures aimed at fostering a "drug-free, healthy barracks culture." The ministry recognizes the pressing need to formulate and implement measures in light of a continuing rise in drug-related crimes, pr

May 23, 2023

Herald hosts forum to mark 70 years of Korea-US alliance

Herald Corp. is hosting a forum in Seoul on Wednesday to commemorate seven decades of the Korea-US alliance, forged in the wake of the 1950-53 Korean War. The forum, titled “The ROK-US Alliance Plus,” will be held from 2.30 p.m. through 8 p.m. at the Shilla Hotel Dynasty Hall in Seoul and will also commemorate the 70th anniversary of The Korea Herald’s foundation. Renowned international personalities, including former US Vice President Al Gore and former Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuz

May 23, 2023

S. Korea, Malaysia to stage friendship flight over Langkawi airport

The South Korean Air Force's Black Eagles aerobatic team will stage a friendship flight with Malaysian jets Tuesday over an airport in the Southeast Asian country, in a move to bolster bilateral defense ties, officials said. The aerobatic team is scheduled to conduct the flight later in the day after arriving in the country last Thursday to join the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition at Langkawi International Airport from Tuesday through Saturday. After the air show�

May 23, 2023

Soldier shot dead during drill

A soldier in his 20s was shot dead during a regular shooting exercise at an Army base in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, the Army said Monday, calling the incident an accident. The private first class, whose name was withheld, was shot by an assault rifle in the head and was in a state of cardiac arrest when first responders arrived at the scene. He died after he was taken to a nearby civilian hospital. “We will closely work with civilian police and offer whatever help necessary to the investig

May 22, 2023

Seoul reviews sending aid, de-mining vehicles to Ukraine

The South Korean government has initiated a review to select nonlethal military aid and equipment to send to Ukraine, a military official with knowledge of the matter confirmed Monday. The related government agencies, including the Defense Ministry, have commenced a working-level process following the first in-person meeting between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The meeting took place on Sunday in Hiroshima, Japan on the sidelines of the Group

May 22, 2023

Defense chief to visit Malaysia for talks on arms cooperation

South Korea's Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup will embark on a four-day trip to Malaysia on Monday for talks on arms industry cooperation and attend a contract signing ceremony for Seoul's export of FA-50 light attack aircraft to the country, his ministry said. During the visit, Lee will meet with his Malaysian counterpart, Mohamad Hasan, and pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to discuss defense cooperation as he attends the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace

May 22, 2023

Defense chief meets Polish pilots at S. Korean Air Force unit

South Korea's defense chief met with Polish pilots at an Air Force unit here Thursday and expressed hopes the two nations will expand defense cooperation, his ministry said. Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup made the remarks during the meeting with four Polish pilots currently undergoing a flight education program to operate South Korea's FA-50 light attack aircraft at the 1st Fighter Wing in Gwangju, 267 kilometers south of Seoul, according to the ministry. "Through the education pro

May 18, 2023

Meet S. Korea’s guardians of the sea

BUSAN/CHANGWON, South Gyeongsang Province — “All hands, man your battle stations!” The combat control center of the South Korean Navy’s Sejong the Great Aegis destroyer in waters off the city of Busan sprung into life. Upon receiving information that a North Korean submarine armed with submarine-launched ballistic missiles, or SLBMs, was operating in waters off the Korean Peninsula, crew members donned life vests and took up their stations as a simulated exercise began Tu

May 18, 2023

Top US general in S. Korea stresses UN Command's role for peace in Northeast Asia

UN Command (UNC) Commander Gen. Paul LaCamera on Tuesday highlighted the US-led institution's role in crisis management on the Korean Peninsula and peace in Northeast Asia, saying it "cannot be replicated by any other organization." LaCamera made the remarks as the command maintains its relevance as an enforcer of the armistice that effectively halted the 1950-53 Korean War, amid lingering questions over the need to update the long-standing entity. "The work of the UN Command

May 16, 2023

S. Korea's KF-21 fighter gets 'provisional' combat suitability evaluation

South Korea's homegrown KF-21 fighter jet passed a provisional combat suitability evaluation earlier this week, the state arms procurement agency said Tuesday, in a key milestone ahead of its initial production phase set to begin next year. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said the evaluation by the Joint Chiefs of Staff came Monday, based on the outcome of hundreds of flight and ground tests on the jet that have proceeded for some two years. The "provisional" evalua

May 16, 2023