The Korea Herald

S. Korea appoints new military leaders amid rising threats from N. Korea

Sept 19, 2016

South Korea's military appointed senior commanders to two key posts as part of an ongoing effort to better counter rising threats from North Korea, the defense ministry said Monday.Um Hyun-seong, 58, vice chairman of Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff, will take over from the current Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jung Ho-sup. Leem Ho-young, 57, chief director of JCS's Strategic Planning Directorate, will replace Gen.Kim Hyun-jip as deputy commander of the Combined Forces Command, the Ministry of Nat
People's Party moving towards more lenient stance on THAAD following nuke test

Sept 19, 2016

South Korea's minor opposition People's Party is moving towards a more lenient stance in regards to the deployment of an advanced US missile defense system in the country, political pundits said Monday.The move apparently comes as Pyongyang's fifth nuclear test conducted earlier this month is causing the general public to lose patience with North Korea. There has been a rise in the number of people calling for greater protection against the North's nuclear and missile threats.Besides detonating
Main opposition says Korea's nuke armament 'populist'

Sept 19, 2016

South Korea's main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea said Monday the rising voice among hawkish lawmakers that Seoul should develop its own nukes is a mere "populist" move, adding it would conflict with United Nations' resolutions."Discussing South Korea's nuke armament thoughtlessly is a mere populist move against Pyongyang's nuclear tests," Rep. Woo Sang-ho, the floor leader of the opposition party, said.Rep. Woo Sang-ho, the floor leader of the Minjoo Party of Korea (Yonhap)Woo added the devel
Remains of KATUSA soldier returned to family after 66 years

Sept 18, 2016

The remains of a South Korean soldier who was assigned to US forces during the Korean War (1950-53) were returned to his family 66 years after he fell in battle, the military said Sunday. The remains belonging to Pvt. Chung Jun-won have been identified by the Agency for KIA Recovery & Identification, the Defense Ministry said.It said Chung enlisted in South Korea’s armed forces in July 1950 shortly after the outbreak of hostilities. He joined up at South Korea’s largest port city of Busan just a
Finnish Army commander reviews Korean K-9 unit: official

Sept 18, 2016

The head of Finland's army toured a South Korean self-propelled artillery unit as the Scandinavian country is considering adopting the K-9 self-propelled howitzers for its armed forces, a military official here said Sunday.According to the source who declined to be identified, Lieutenant General Seppo Toivonen visited an Army unit that uses the K-9 Thunder on Sept. 10. "The general specifically checked how South Korea employs the artillery system in its units," the official said. The Finnish off
[NEWS FOCUS] Allies to step up military measures against NK

Sept 12, 2016

Questions raised over efficacy of autonomous defense measures
Korea unveils plan to raze Pyongyang in case of signs of nuclear attack

Sept 11, 2016

South Korea has already developed a plan to annihilate the North Korean capital of Pyongyang through intensive bombing in case the North shows any signs of a nuclear attack, a military source in Seoul said Sunday."Every Pyongyang district, particularly where the North Korean leadership is possibly hidden, will be completely destroyed by ballistic missiles and high-explosive shells as soon as the North shows any signs of using a nuclear weapon. In other words, the North's capital city will be red
US aircraft carrier to take part in Korean drills in mid-Oct.

Sept 11, 2016

The United States plans to dispatch a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to South Korea next month in a show of force to deter further military provocations by North Korea following its latest nuclear test, a military official here said Sunday.The USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), the flagship of the Yokosuka, Japan-based Carrier Strike Group Five of the US Navy, will sail to South Korea's Yellow and South Seas to participate in a joint naval exercise with South Korea, slated for Oct. 10-15, the officia
Trump reiterates call for Korea to pay more

Sept 9, 2016

US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he will "respectfully" ask South Korea and other allies to pay more for American defense support if elected to the White House.Trump made the remark during a campaign speech in Philadelphia, once again reaffirming one of the key points of his foreign policy: that allies take US defense support for granted and don't pay their fair shares."I will be respectfully asking countries such as Germany, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia to pay more for t
Korea hosts synergistic, dynamic, decisive dialogue

Sept 8, 2016

The concept of military power has two starkly different subcategories: hard and soft power. The former normally involves the use of coercive military means such as the conventional forces or nuclear weapons, while the latter is achieved by noncoercive means of persuasion, including personal exchanges, joint military drills and military diplomacy.In the 21st century, many states are opting to focus more on military soft power. Direct military confrontations not only pose a grave risk to national
Defense Dialogue discusses global security threats

Sept 8, 2016

The Seoul Defense Dialogue 2016 officially kicked off Thursday to discuss continued and new security crises around the world, in particular North Korea’s evolving military threats with its recent barrage of missile tests.The fifth annual talks were hosted by the South Korean Defense Ministry and brought together delegations from 34 countries and five international organizations under the theme “Complex Security Crisis, Challenges and Solutions.”The opening ceremony, held at the Westin Chosun Hot
NK threats, maritime dispute to headline defense forum

Sept 7, 2016

High-ranking defense officials from 33 countries and five international organizations gathered Wednesday to discuss regional and international security issues, namely the ongoing challenges involving North Korea and maritime disputes involving the US, China and Japan.The Seoul Defense Dialogue 2016, held from Sept.7-9, will kick off with a plenary session Thursday on the denuclearization of North Korea and international cooperation. Seoul Defense Dialogue 2015 (SDD)During the session, the partic
Locals voice rejection of THAAD

Sept 7, 2016

Citizens of Seongju and Gimcheon in North Gyeongsang Province on Wednesday met with opposition party leader Choo Mi-ae and visited the US Embassy in Seoul to voice discontent about the government’s plan to locate the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system in the southern towns.The visit came after the residents’ committee in Gimcheon visited Defense Minister Han Min-koo last week to assert that they do not want the US missile defense system in their neighborhood citing health concerns.The Mi
[Photo news] Hanwha showcases weapon systems

Sept 7, 2016

Hanwha Techwin’s K9 self-propelled howitzer (right) and Hanwha Corp.’s Korean ballistic aerial target system are displayed at the Defense Expo Korea 2016 held from Wednesday through Sunday at Kintex in Ilsan, Gyeonggi Province. The four defense units of Hanwha Group -- including Hanwha Defense systems and Hanwha Thales -- featured a joint booth at Korea’s biggest defense industry exhibition to demonstrate their weapon systems. They include the Chunmoo multiple rocket launching system and the lon
World defense officials to gather at Seoul forum

Sept 6, 2016

High-ranking defense officials from 33 countries and five international organizations will gather Wednesday in Seoul to discuss ways to address global security issues, such as growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. The fifth annual Seoul Defense Dialogue, hosted by the Defense Ministry under the theme “Complex Security Crisis: Challenges and Solutions,” is to run from Sept.7-9 at the Westin Chosun hotel in Seoul. Vice-ministerial talks will be held between South Korea’s Vice Defe