Feb 17, 2019

Defense chiefs of Korea, UAE discuss military ties, cooperation

The defense ministers of South Korea and the United Arab Emirates have held talks to discuss ways to strengthen military ties and defense industry cooperation, Seoul's defense ministry said Sunday.During the talks in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and his counterpart Mohammed Ahmed Al-Bowardi agreed to beef up military personnel exchanges and strengthen cooperation in such areas as military training and responses to cyber threats, the ministry added. Defense Minister Je

Feb 15, 2019

USFK chief says American troop presence not related to end-of-war declaration or peace treaty

US Forces Korea Commander Gen. Robert Abrams reaffirmed Friday that the issue of the American troop presence in South Korea is not related to any potential declaration of an end to the Korean War or a peace treaty with North Korea. His remarks came amid controversy over his congressional statement this week, which was seen as signaling the possibility of the US troop withdrawal -- or drawdown -- in the event that a peace treaty is signed with Pyongyang. (AFP)"USFK's presence remains a matter of

Feb 15, 2019

US 7th fleet's command ship visits Busan

The command ship of the US Navy's 7th Fleet visited the southeastern port city of Busan on Friday to enhance exchanges and friendly ties between the allies' naval forces, South Korea's Navy said.Following months of maintenance work, the 19,609-ton USS Blue Ridge, based in Yokosuka, Japan, is on a regional tour and expected to stay in Korea until early next week, according to an informed source. (Yonhap)A South Korean military official said that the ship's crewmembers may meet South Korean troops

Feb 13, 2019

Trump says S. Korea should pay US more for defense

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday called for a further increase in South Korea's share of the cost of stationing American troops on the peninsula.Trump's remarks came only days after the allies signed a preliminary agreement renewing their cost-sharing deal for the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea."As you know, South Korea -- we defend them and lose a tremendous amount of money," the US president said at a Cabinet meeting, repeating a signature refrain.(Yonhap)"Billions of dollars a year defendi

Feb 13, 2019

Korean defense companies selected to maintain F-35 stealth fighters

Korean companies have been selected for the maintenance of F-35 stealth fighters, the acquisition administration here said Tuesday. According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, Ellen Lord, US undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, has announced that a consortium of Korean defense companies, Team ROK, has been officially selected for the maintenance of F-35 stealth fighter parts.Team ROK consists of Hanwha Systems, Hanwha Corp./Machinery, and Hanwha Techwin -- 

Feb 13, 2019

[Feature] Mobile phones in barracks: Soldiers no longer under total control

Defense Ministry moves to reform its rigid, closed military culture

Feb 12, 2019

S. Korea ditches plan for new military command amid peace efforts

South Korea's military has canceled a plan to establish a new strategic command tasked with countering North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, a Seoul official said Tuesday, amid a full-fledged peace-building initiative.Instead, the Ministry of National Defense is considering installing a new division inside the Joint Chiefs of Staff to cope with the threats from the North's nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction.President Moon Jae-in pledged to launch the command during his election c

Feb 12, 2019

Details of cost-sharing for US troops in Korea

Korea will spend some 1.04 trillion won ($925 million) this year to help pay for the stationing of US troops here, under an agreement that was preliminarily signed Sunday.Seoul has shared the financial burden for the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea since 1991 under the Special Measures Agreement.Korea’s contributions, increased by 8.2 percent this year, are spent to pay wages for Koreans hired by the USFK, for military construction and on logistics. Chang Won-sam (right), South Korea‘s delegate to

Feb 11, 2019

South Korea, US ink provisional defense cost-sharing pact

South Korea and the United States signed a provisional agreement Sunday on the sharing of costs to maintain US troops here, with South Korea raising its share by 8.2 percent. Seoul’s negotiator, Chang Won-sam, and his US counterpart, Timothy Betts, met in Seoul to ink the contract. Under the new deal, South Korea will pay about 1.03 trillion won ($890 million) to cover the costs of stationing the 28,500 members of US Forces Korea here throughout 2019. The figure reflects the rate of increase of

Feb 10, 2019

Korea to launch negotiations on aircraft swap deal with Spain

South Korea and Spain are expected to launch negotiations as early as this month on a proposed deal to swap military transport planes of the European nation with Korean trainer jets, defense officials said Sunday. The deal, if realized, would mark South Korea's first export of aircraft to Europe. (Yonhap)According to government and military officials, South Korea has been reviewing Spain's proposal to trade some of its A-400M transport planes made by Airbus for KT-1 and T-50 trainer jets produce

Feb 10, 2019

S. Korea denies media report on lodging of additional protests over Japanese aircraft's flyby

South Korea’s defense ministry on Saturday denied a Japanese newspaper report claiming that it had lodged additional protests over a Japanese military plane‘s low-altitude flyby of a South Korean naval ship.Earlier, Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun reported that South Korea lodged protests with Japan between late January and early February over a Japanese maritime patrol plane’s threatening flyby. (Yonhap)However, the South Korean defense ministry said that such a report is not true, adding that

Feb 8, 2019

S. Korea, US to announce military exercise plan after Trump-Kim summit: source

South Korea and the United States have postponed the announcement of plans for their combined springtime military exercises until after the second summit between Washington and Pyongyang slated for late this month, a government source said Friday.If the allies press ahead with their annual training programs, ongoing preparations for the summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un may be affected. There's also a possibility that the leaders will reach a deal to ca

Feb 7, 2019

Korea guarded about allied exercise plans amid Trump-Kim summit preparations

South Korea's defense ministry maintained a cautious approach Thursday toward springtime joint exercises with the United States amid preparations for a second summit between Washington and Pyongyang.Seoul and Washington have been discussing how to proceed with their combined exercises, counting on their potential impact on ongoing diplomacy for Pyongyang's denuclearization and peace on the divided peninsula. (AFP)The Seoul-based conservative daily Chosun Ilbo reported that the two-week Key Resol

Feb 7, 2019

Korea, US nearing deal on defense cost sharing: lawmaker

South Korea and the United States may conclude their drawn-out negotiations on defense cost sharing as early as Thursday, a ruling party lawmaker said, adding Seoul's share will likely be set at around 1 trillion won ($889 million)."The defense cost sharing negotiations have entered their final stage," Rep. Lee Soo-hyuck of the ruling Democratic Party told reporters. (Yonhap)"(The sides) have agreed to set the amount only for this year, and are in the process of narrowing their differences to ar