Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday dismissed the idea of pulling US troops out of South Korea following a peace treaty with North Korea, reiterating the need for a continued US military presence on the Korean Peninsula.　According to Cheong Wa Dae, President Moon Jae-in said the issue of US forces stationed in South Korea should only be determined through consultations with Washington, and was not dependent on whether there would be a peace treaty with North Korea. 　“US troops in South Korea are a matte

South Korea's defense authorities began taking down loudspeakers installed along the border with North Korea on Tuesday in Seoul's first action to follow up on their summit deal last week, officials said.A Ministry of National Defense official said the North also appears to have begun removing its own loudspeakers earlier in the day.The removal of the loudspeaker broadcast equipment in front-line regions got under way in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Tuesday afternoon in front of media. A mobile loud

With the two Koreas seeking to ease cross-border tensions following an inter-Korean summit, the South Korean military took the first step Monday by announcing a plan to remove propaganda loudspeakers along the border with North Korea. 　　Starting Tuesday, the propaganda loudspeakers are to be pulled back from the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, where the two Koreas had blasted propaganda massages across the border via dozens of massive loudspeakers until they were suspended days before Frid

South Korea's military said Monday it will soon pull back all high-decibel loudspeakers installed along the border with North Korea in its first step to implement the bilateral summit agreement reached last week.The Ministry of National Defense said it will begin the work to remove the equipment from the Demilitarized Zone on Tuesday.In their talks last Friday, President Moon Jae-in and the North's leader Kim Jong-un agreed to "completely cease all hostile acts against each other in every domain

South Korea-US joint military exercises are to be suspended when the two Koreas’ leaders hold a historic summit on Friday, in a move aimed at setting a peaceful tone for what could be a major breakthrough to easing cross-border tensions. 　According to the allies’ militaries, the first part of the annual Key Resolve exercise wrapped up Thursday and the second phase will kick off Monday. A session to review the performance of the computer-simulated games is scheduled for Saturday. 　The allies’ mil

The planned construction of some facilities in the new THAAD missile defense base in South Korea is meant to reduce the inconveniences of both American and South Korean troops stationed there, a US Forces Korea official said Monday."The THAAD deployment site is a former golf course, which will require some construction modifications to better accommodate the ROK-US troops based there," the official told Yonhap News Agency, requesting anonymity. "The morale and welfare of our soldiers is our top

South Korea's defense ministry said Monday that it's starting the transport of construction materials, equipment and personnel into the US missile defense base, 300 kilometers south of Seoul, despite protests by local residents and activists. (Yonhap)It cited the urgency of building amenities and other facilities to improve the living conditions of more than 400 South Korean and US troops stationed at the THAAD base in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province."We have decided to begin the transport of

SEONGJU/SEOUL -- Construction vehicles made it into the base of the United States THAAD anti-missile system in southeastern South Korea on Monday after riot police removed protesters blocking the road to oppose THAAD's deployment.Twenty-two vehicles carrying construction materials, equipment and workers entered the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense base in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, from around 11:20 a.m. as part of a project to build facilities for troops manning the unit.Their entra

SEONGJU -- Residents living near the US military's new missile defense base on the Korean Peninsula confronted police officers on Sunday, the police said.Residents and activists have been blocking the transport of construction materials and equipment into the THAAD site in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, for months, citing concerns that the military will expand helipads and other facilities associated with military operations in the compound.The Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency said 30 Seo

South Korea and United States will hold their annual Key Resolve training exercise starting this week as scheduled, a military official said Sunday.The simulation-based, command-post drill between the two allies is set to begin Monday and run for the next two weeks, the official said. The two countries started their four-week Foal Eagle field training at the beginning of this month.But it's unclear whether the training will take place this Friday, when leaders of South Korea and North Korea are

South Korea's military said Friday the inter-Korean summit talks next week may lead the two Koreas to let their guards down along the heavily fortified border.The South's President Moon Jae-in is scheduled to meet with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong-un, at the border village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone on April 27. Among key agenda items are denuclearization and ways to reduce military tensions. (Yonhap)Some have floated the idea of the two sides withdrawing heavy weapons

South Korea and the United States have yet to decide whether to continue their combined military exercises through the inter-Korean summit day next week, a defense official said Thursday.The allies kicked off the Foal Eagle field training in Korea on April 1 with an announcement that it will last four weeks. They are also scheduled to start the Key Resolve simulation-based, command-post drill next Monday.It's an open secret that the two sides plan to wrap up Foal Eagle, ostensibly before next Fr

South Korea's Air Force announced Wednesday it has found no evidence of any mechanical failure related to the deadly crash of an F-15K fighter jet earlier this month.It suggests the possibility of human error or an unknown "environmental factor" behind the accident that killed two pilots.The aircraft crashed into a 839-meter-high mountain in Chilgok, North Gyeongsang Province, on April 5.The F-15K aircraft crashed into a mountain in Chilgok, North Gyeongsang Province, on April 5 on its way back

South Korea's Air Force said Tuesday it will take part in a multinational civil engineer training hosted by the US Pacific Air Forces.The Silver Flag drill is scheduled to open on Wednesday for an 11-day run at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.The annual practice is aimed at strengthening partnerships and promoting interoperability among civil engineers across the region in dealing with various contingency situations.South Korea's Air Force service members plan to participate in eight programs --

The Yongsan era of the US Forces Korea will draw to a close in the coming months with an official transfer ceremony at an expanded base south of Seoul, defense sources here said Monday."The USFK headquarters will relocate to Camp Humphreys by June or July. A transfer ceremony is provisionally slated for early July," an informed source told Yonhap News Agency. "No date has been fixed yet, with the USFK leadership currently preoccupied with preparing for the (upcoming) South-North summit talks."Ge