South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday welcomed the visiting US President Donald Trump at a main garrison for US troops stationed here, a surprise move intended to showcase the robust alliance amid North Korea’s persistent nuclear and missile threats. The leaders met at Camp Humphreys, a newly expanded US Army base located in the rural area of Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, about 70 kilometer south of Seoul. The military compound is the first stop on Trump’s two-day visit to South Korea.

In an unannounced move, South Korea President Moon Jae-in greeted the visiting US President Donald Trump at a US military base in Pyeongtaek, 65 kilometers south of Seoul, the first stop on Trump’s two-day itinerary here, Moon’s office said Tuesday.The leaders met at Camp Humphreys, a newly expanded US Army garrison located in the rural area of Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. (AP-Yonhap)Trump landed at Osan Air Base in S. Korea at 12:18 p.m., beginning his first visit here as president.  A gestur

　With US President Donald Trump in Japan and soon to arrive here with the North Korean nuclear and missile threat high on his agenda, it may be of US interest to keep the two -- arguably the US’ closest regional allies -- unified in resolving the standoff with North Korea. 　But for President Moon Jae-in, fresh off from a “let’s patch up” deal with China and now bent on performing a balancing act between two great powers, that is not a simple matter.　　Washington has long stressed the need for enh

   South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday there was no secret agreement with Beijing over a US missile shield deployment, denying claims Seoul made security concessions to restore economic ties with China. 　The ministry’s spokesperson Noh Kyu-duk said Seoul did not make any backroom deals with Beijing ahead of Tuesday’s South Korea-China joint statement. In the statement, the two sides vowed to repair their knotty relationship following Seoul’s decision to deploy the US’ Terminal High Alti

　Poolus, a ride-sharing app developed by a South Korean startup, has lured 22 billion won ($19.6 million) in its first funding round, the company said Monday.　A group of big-name investors has participated in the funding, including a joint fund launched by the South Korean portal giant Naver and Mirae Asset, as well as SK Corp., the holding company of SK Group. Other investors included Yellowdog, a venture capital firm for startups and Collaborative Fund, a US investment fund that has invested i

 　After months of a diplomatic spat, South Korea and China are finally in a mood to patch things up. But their detente cleverly circumvents the main point of their contention -- THAAD -- leaving many to wonder what will happen to the US missile defense system in South Korea that China has so strongly opposed. 　　Seoul and Beijing said Tuesday they agreed to talk through military channels about the disputed deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense anti-missile system here. 　While ther

An opposition lawmaker said Monday he has proposed a bill to the National Assembly aiming to have the Korea-US Combined Forces Command undergo parliamentary audit, criticizing the bilateral organization for failing to share critical information with the legislative body in Seoul. Rep. Kim Joong-ro of the People’s Party said the legislative proposal was submitted on Friday to mandate the CFC commander -- assumed by a US four-star general -- testify before South Korean legislators about security a

South Korea and the United States’ defense chiefs on Saturday pledged they would never tolerate a nuclear-armed North Korea, warning that any provocations would be met with “massive and overwhelming” retaliation. 　During their annual Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul, Defense Minister Song Young-moo and his US counterpart Jim Mattis reiterated their commitment to a diplomatic approach to the North, but stressed military options were on the table and they will carry weight in finding a diplo

The South Korean and US defense chiefs on Friday expressed their commitment to a diplomatic solution to resolving the nuclear standoff with North Korea, saying their goal is to achieve the complete nuclear disarmament of the North, not to pursue another war on the Korean Peninsula. During their visit to the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas, Defense Minister Song Young-moo and his US counterpart James Mattis urged North Korea to suspend reckless provocations and immediately return t

The South Korean and US defense chiefs on Friday expressed their commitment to a diplomatic solution to resolving the nuclear standoff with North Korea, saying their goal is to achieve the complete nuclear disarmament of the North, not to pursue another war on the Korean Peninsula. During their visit to the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas, Defense Minister Song Young-moo and his US counterpart James Mattis urged North Korea to suspend reckless provocations and immediately return t

   　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

　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

　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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

　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