The Korea Herald

China prepares diplomatic, military measures against THAAD: expert

Nov 17, 2016

China is preparing all necessary measures, including diplomatic and military responses, to South Korea's planned deployment of an advanced US anti-missile system on its soil, a former Chinese diplomat and expert on Korean affairs said Thursday.Yang Xiyu, a senior research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, emphasized that there will be "no winners" in the arms race, such as the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) in South Korea.He served as h
Korea to develop long-range rocket to counter N.K. threats

Nov 16, 2016

South Korea on Wednesday approved three major defense projects, including a long-range rocket system, to help bolster its capabilities to better counter growing North Korean military threats.The government's approval comes amid mounting geopolitical uncertainties surrounding the Korean Peninsula as Pyongyang ratchets up its saber rattling and many countries in the region feel uneasy about Donald Trump's surprise victory in last week's U.S. presidential race.During the 2017-2020 period, Seoul wil
Defense Ministry secures site for THAAD

Nov 16, 2016

South Korea’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday it has reached an agreement to acquire a Lotte Group-owned plot of land as the site for the upcoming deployment of an advanced US missile defense system.According to the agreement, the ministry will exchange state-owned land in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, for the Lotte Skyhill Country Club and its surrounding land. The golf resort sits in the southeastern county of Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, which was designated on Sept. 30 as the spot for
Defense ministry concludes deal to secure site for THAAD

Nov 16, 2016

South Korea's defense ministry concluded a deal Wednesday to acquire a site for an advanced US missile defense system from Lotte Group. The Ministry of National Defense has agreed to secure the Lotte Skyhill Country Club in the southeastern rural county of Seongju from the country's fifth-largest conglomerate. The ministry will give state-owned military land near Seoul to Lotte in exchange for the golf course, the ministry said in a statement. It said an appraisal of the value of the two sites w
Putting nuclear weapons back in S. Korea could be considered to pressure China to rein in NK: ex-CIA chief

Nov 16, 2016

Bringing US tactical nuclear weapons back to South Korea or relaxing restrictions on Seoul's civilian nuclear industry could be considered as a means to put pressure on China to work harder to get North Korea to give up its nuclear program, a former CIA director said Tuesday.Michael Hayden, who served as CIA chief from 2006-2009, made the suggestion in an article to The Hill newspaper, expressing concern that the North will likely be able to "reach the Pacific Northwest with a nuclear-armed miss
Defense ministry set to finalize deal to secure site for THAAD

Nov 15, 2016

South Korea's defense ministry is set to conclude a deal to acquire a site for an advanced US missile defense system from Lotte Group, a military source said Tuesday.The Ministry of National Defense has tentatively agreed to secure the Lotte Skyhill Country Club in the southeastern rural county of Seongju from the nation's fifth-largest conglomerate. The ministry suggested giving state-owned land near Seoul to Lotte in exchange for the golf course, a military official told Yonhap News Agency."Lo
Opposition cries foul over Korea-Japan military pact signing

Nov 15, 2016

Opposition parties Tuesday set in motion a campaign to oust Defense Minister Han Min-koo over a controversial military pact with Japan that was tentatively signed by the two sides late Monday. Making good on their pledge, the three groups -- the Democratic Party of Korea, People’s Party and Justice Party -- decided to submit a parliamentary motion to recommend the minister’s dismissal on Nov. 30 and put it to vote at a plenary session slated for Dec. 2.Its passage is likely, since the opposition
Trump unlikely to drastically change US defense policy on South Korea

Nov 15, 2016

The US defense policy concerning South Korea is unlikely to undergo an extensive change under the leadership of President-elect Donald Trump, US experts said at a Seoul symposium Tuesday.Trump, who beat Democratic Party favorite Hillary Clinton in the US presidential election last week, has publicly made controversial comments. They include the accusation US allies are “freeloading” on defense, and he even seemed to toy with the prospect of pulling US forces out of South Korea unless the host co
Opposition parties to recommend dismissal of defense minister over Korea-Japan military pact

Nov 15, 2016

Opposition parties on Tuesday agreed to submit a motion later this month to recommend the dismissal of Defense Minister Han Min-koo to make good on their pledge to unseat him for the provisional signing of a military intelligence-sharing pact with Japan.The Democratic Party, the People's Party and the Justice Party made the agreement to submit the motion on Nov. 30 and put it to vote during the National Assembly's plenary session slated for Dec. 2. Defense Minister Han Min-koo is seen attending
Marine Corps chief inspects western front-line troops

Nov 15, 2016

The chief of South Korea's Marine Corps on Tuesday inspected front-line troops along the tense western sea border with North Korea.The Marine Corps' commander, Lt. Gen. Lee Sang-hoon, called for full readiness and a swift response against any provocations by the North during the visit to the islands of Yeonpyeong and Udo, the Marine Corps said in a statement. In this photo taken on Nov. 15, 2016, the Marine Corps' commander, Lt. Gen. Lee Sang-hoon, speaks during his visit to Yeonpyeong Island, a
US welcomes Korea-Japan intel sharing deal

Nov 15, 2016

The US Defense Department on Monday welcomed the provisional signing of a military intelligence sharing agreement between South Korea and Japan."We noted the recent media reports that the Governments of the Republic of Korea and Japan reached a provisional agreement on a bilateral General Security of Military Information Agreement," Cmdr. Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman, told Yonhap News Agency. "A potential ROK-Japan GSOMIA could strengthen cooperation between our two closest allies in Northeas
Seoul tentatively signs intel pact with Japan

Nov 14, 2016

South Korea and Japan on Monday tentatively signed a much-disputed bilateral security cooperation agreement, despite expected political backlash. Officials from Seoul’s Defense Ministry met with their Japanese counterparts in Tokyo for the third working-level meeting for the General Security of Military Information Agreement between the two countries, where they put the finishing touches on the deal.“South Korea and Japan confirmed that they share the view concerning the ongoing negotiations abo
Navy chief inspects drills, calls for readiness against NK missiles

Nov 14, 2016

South Korea's Navy chief on Monday inspected a military exercise in the East Sea designed to enhance its capabilities to counter North Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missiles.Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Um Hyun-seong called for full readiness and a swift reaction if provoked during the inspection aboard a P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, widely known as a "submarine killer." The exercise began Thursday with the aim to assess and improve South Korea's capabilities to strike North Korean sub
[Graphic News] Comparison: How much S. Korea, Japan pay for US Forces

Nov 13, 2016

US President-elect Donald Trump’s claims that Washington’s allies are “freeloading” on defense could foreshadow bumpy negotiations over sharing the cost of stationing US forces here.As of 2016, South Korea pays about 944.1 billion won ($808 million) for the US Forces Korea, which covers for a little less than half of its estimated operating costs. Japan, which hosts more US troops of some 54,000 in military personnel alone, agreed in 2015 to spend about 189.9 billion yen annually, according to t
Military heightens readiness after NK leader's border unit visits

Nov 13, 2016

South Korea will ramp up its readiness against possible provocations by North Korea ahead of the sixth anniversary of the North's shelling of a western border island in 2010, military officials said Sunday.As North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently visited front-line units near the border with the South, Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff does not rule out the possibility of a shelling by the North against the South's Yeonpyeongdo Island or other northern border islands in the West Sea. The North's