Jan 16, 2020

S. Korea, China hold working-level defense talks over peninsula

South Korea and China held working-level defense talks in Seoul on Thursday on ways to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula and enhance bilateral cooperation, Seoul's defense ministry said.During the 18th round of bilateral policy consultations, Lee Won-ik, director general of international policy at the Ministry of National Defense, and his Chinese counterpart, Song Yan Chao, exchanged their assessments of the recent security situation on the peninsula, according to the ministry. They shared t

Jan 16, 2020

S. Korea, US still have differences on defense cost sharing: ministry

South Korea and the US still have their differences on how to share the costs of stationing American troops in Korea, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday, after the two sides wrapped up their latest round of negotiations in Washington.“The two sides broadened their mutual understanding and consensus but confirmed that there are still differences between them,” the ministry said in a statement Thursday without mentioning what the differences were. “In the latest meeting, our

Jan 16, 2020

[Newsmaker] Active-duty soldier undergoes sex reassignment surgery, voices hope for continuing service

An Army non-commissioned officer underwent gender reassignment surgery last year and has expressed a desire to continue to serve in the military as a female solider, officers said Thursday.The serviceperson, whose identity was withheld, visited a foreign country while on furlough last year for the surgery. After an examination, a military medical team declared her "a handicapped person," which requires the authorities' evaluation to decide whether to discharge her or not. The officer r

Jan 12, 2020

S. Korea, US Army chiefs to meet in Washington this week

South Korea's Army Chief of Staff Gen. Suh Wook will visit the United States this week for talks with his US counterpart to discuss ways to boost ties between their services, Suh's office said Sunday.During his seven-day official visit starting on Sunday, Suh is scheduled to meet with US Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. James McConville to reaffirm the allies' staunch alliance and find ways to boost exchanges and cooperation between the militaries, according to the Army.The general is also planni

Jan 11, 2020

US unit seen stepping up preparations for rotational deployment to Korea

A US Army unit appears to be quickening preparations for its upcoming rotational deployment to South Korea, with its recent social media post saying its heavy equipment is "on its way to the port."The 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, Kansas, is expected to arrive in Korea in the coming months for a nine-month rotational mission. It will replace the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division. "Rail head operations are just

Jan 10, 2020

S. Korea, US to hold defense cost talks next week after Washington hints at compromise

South Korea and the United States will hold a new round of talks in Washington next week on sharing the cost for stationing American troops here amid expectations the two sides are closer to a deal.Jeong Eun-bo, South Korea's chief negotiator for the talks, is set to meet his US counterpart, James DeHart, for two-day talks starting on Tuesday (US time), the foreign ministry said Friday.The planned negotiations come as the two allies are under pressure to clinch a fresh deal on determining how mu

Jan 9, 2020

[Newsmaker] Restricted military areas to be opened up for business development

Restricted military areas in Korea, concentrated in regions adjacent to the capital, will be opened up to the public for business development, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said Thursday. The areas to be affected are mostly near Seoul in Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces and cover 77 square kilometers -- roughly 27 times the size of Seoul’s financial district of Yeouido.After a morning meeting with the Defense Ministry, the party unveiled the government plan and said the areas wou

Jan 7, 2020

Ministry says no decision yet on whether to send S. Korean troops to Hormuz Strait

South Korea has made no decision yet on whether to send its troops to help safeguard the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, Seoul's foreign ministry said Tuesday, amid rising tensions in the Middle East from the US killing of a top Iranian general last week.    Friday's fatal drone strike on Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, has raised expectations that Washington will step up calls for its allies to contribute to maritime security operations in the wa

Jan 7, 2020

US again flies surveillance aircraft over S. Korea amid tensions

The United States flew a surveillance aircraft over South Korea's capital areas on Tuesday, an aviation tracker said, amid simmering tensions over possible provocations by North Korea.An RC-135W Rivet Joint of the US Air Force was spotted in the skies above areas near the western port city of Incheon following similar operations by the aircraft the previous day, Aircraft Spots tweeted. Several other surveillance aircraft, such as the EP-3E and the RC-135S, have also been detected here often in r

Jan 6, 2020

US flies surveillance aircraft to monitor N. Korea amid tensions

The United States flew surveillance aircraft over the Korean Peninsula on Monday, an aviation tracker said, amid simmering tensions over possible provocative acts by North Korea after it warned of a "new strategic weapon."An RC-135W Rivet Joint of the US Air Force carried out operations over South Korea at 31,000 feet, Aircraft Spots tweeted.It added the flight took place Monday.    This type of aircraft was last spotted over the peninsula on Wednesday, according to the

Jan 4, 2020

S. Korea to abolish military guardhouse system

South Korea is expected to abolish the military guardhouse system this year as part of efforts to better protect the human rights of draftees, officials said Saturday.A revision of the Military Personnel Management Act calls for the abolishment of guardhouses and the establishment of additional educational programs instead to discipline soldiers, according to the defense ministry. The bill, now pending at the National Assembly, will come into effect six months after passage.Under the guardhouse

Jan 2, 2020

S. Korea, US to adjust combined drills for diplomacy with N. Korea: defense ministry

South Korea and the United States will continue to stage their combined exercises in an adjusted manner to support efforts for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Seoul's defense ministry said Thursday.  The allies have either canceled or scaled back joint drills since 2018 to back diplomacy with North Korea.  "We've maintained our stance that combined exercises with the US shall be adjusted in close coordination between the two sides in order to support diplom

Jan 2, 2020

US flies surveillance aircraft after NK warns of 'new strategic weapon'

The United States again flew a surveillance aircraft over the Korean Peninsula, an aviation tracker said Thursday, amid simmering tensions over possible provocative acts by North Korea after it warned of a "new strategic weapon."An RC-135W Rivet Joint of the US Air Force carried out operations over South Korea at 31,000 feet, Aircraft Spots tweeted without specifying the exact time of the operation.This type of aircraft has been spotted conducting missions above the peninsula over the

Jan 1, 2020

Experts weigh in on what NK's 'new strategic weapon' might be

Following North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s warning of a “new strategic weapon,” experts on Wednesday weighed in on the state of the regime’s veiled missile program for clues. Given that the North has been trying to develop multiple-warhead intercontinental ballistic missiles and submarine-launched ballistic missiles, the strategic weapon may be an upgrade of either of the two -- both of which could pose a greater threat to the security of the United States and its a