Experts voice concern that as long as North Korea’s nuclear threat persists, qualitative assessment provides misleading information　

Gen. Park Han-ki, the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Thursday he will push to reinforce advanced military capabilities as they prepare for the envisioned transfer of wartime operation control to South Korea. “The security situation of the Korean Peninsula is now at a major historical turning point as we proceed towards peace and prosperity after long periods of confrontation,” Park said in his inaugural ceremony at the Ministry of National Defense on Thursday morning.“The people

Navy offers a glimpse into a maritime inspection for upcoming 2018 International Fleet Review

South Korea's Navy will host a global forum on maritime security on the southern resort island of Jeju this week on the occasion of its once-in-a-decade international fleet review, officials said Monday.The 16th biennial Western Pacific Naval Symposium will take place on Friday, bringing together 150 naval representatives from 46 countries, including the United States, China, Japan, Russia and Britain.  (Yonhap)The forum was launched in 1988 with an aim to promote trust and cooperation among nav

　South Korean naval vessels carrying military cadets will travel to Japan later this month for a joint training, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said Sunday, despite an ongoing diplomatic row between Seoul and Japan over the latter’s use of a controversial military flag. 　According to the Ministry of National Defense, three vessels carrying about 600 cadets from the Army, Navy and the Air Force will participate in the cruising exercise to be held in the Japanese port city of Sasebo from Oct. 28 to Nov.

Japan has reportedly decided not to attend an international naval event to be held in South Korea next week, amid a dispute over its plan to raise the Rising Sun Flag widely seen as a symbol of Japan’s military aggression here. A Japanse warship is seen with a Rising Sun flag in the foreground in a Japanese port in 2014. YonhapJapan notified South Korea of the decision on Friday morning. It will instead send a delegation to a symposium to be held as part of the Jeju International Naval Fleet Rev

The nominee to become South Korea's top military officer made clear Friday that North Korea remains the country's enemy despite a conciliatory mood."Our existing enemy ... It's North Korea, which is a clear enemy that threatens the Republic of Korea," Army Gen. Park Han-ki, nominated to lead the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly.He was answering a question about the biggest security threat to South Korea. Army Gen. Park Han-ki (Yonhap)On the rec

Controversy over the Japanese Rising Sun Flag shows no sign of abating ahead of an international naval festival to be held in Korea next week, with politicians and activists calling for measures to ban what they see as a symbol of Japanese military imperialism. A ruling party lawmaker proposed a bill to ban the entry of Japanese warships to the South Korean territory if they raise the Rising Sun Flag. And a well-known professor sent emails abroad to denounce the Japanese decision to show the con

The Korea Herald travels with demining specialists to watch removal operation

South Korea on Monday celebrated its 70th Armed Forces Day with pomp and festivity, in a stark contrast to last year's showcase of its ballistic missiles and other military hardware intended to counter evolving North Korean threats.The celebration came against the backdrop of the two Koreas' ongoing efforts to halt "all hostile acts" against each other, practically eliminate the danger of war and pave the way for a lasting peace regime on the divided peninsula.At the War Memorial of Korea in cen

In line with the 70th Armed Forces Day, President Moon Jae-in highlighted strong national defense and the alliance with the US on Monday, as the allies cooperate toward denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. “Now we have launched our ambitious journey toward lasting peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. The path we are walking on is a path that no one has walked before, and so it is hard to predict what difficulties lie ahead. And therefore, strong defense is more important than ever,” the

The Navy said Sunday it will continue to consult with Japan to prevent a Japanese warship from carrying a controversial imperialistic flag to an international naval review in South Korea next month, amid public outcry over what many South Koreans see as the symbol of wartime aggression.  Activists protest against Japan’s plan to carry a controversial imperialistic flag to an international naval event in South Korea next month, at a rally in central Seoul on Sept. 27. (Yonhap)Seoul’s Foreign Mini

Controversy continues to escalate over the Japanese Rising Sun flag, which symbolizes the country’s past imperialism, as Tokyo’s defense ministry pushes back against South Korean military’s request that Japanese warships not fly the flag at an upcoming international naval festival. 　According to an Asahi Shimbun report on Friday, an anonymous Japanese defense official said Japan might boycott the naval fleet review scheduled for Oct. 10-14 on Jeju Island, in light of South Korea’s “absurd” reque

South Korea's defense ministry said Thursday that there are no big differences with the UN Command over the military part of the recent inter-Korean summit agreement aimed at reducing tensions and preventing accidental clashes.Speculation has continued that the UNC, the enforcer of the armistice that halted the 1950-53 Korean War, appears uncomfortable with the fast pace of the inter-Korean peace drive given that there has been no tangible progress in Pyongyang's denuclearization.The speculation