The Korea Herald

Allies postpone launch of THAAD talks

Feb 23, 2016

South Korea and the U.S. will sign an agreement to officially launch talks to station a U.S. advanced missile defense system here this week, the Ministry of National Defense said, postponing its original plan to reach a deal on Tuesday.The ministry on Monday had said it would sign an agreement with the U.S. military on a joint working group for negotiations on deploying Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system on 11 a.m. Tuesday. The allies have mulled over having the ballistic missile defense
Korea to dispatch 6th rotational PKO forces to South Sudan

Feb 23, 2016

South Korea will dispatch its 6th batch of peacekeeping troops to South Sudan as part of its mission to help the civil war-torn African country's rebuilding efforts, the Army said Tuesday.The 270-strong contingent will depart for the United Nations peacekeeping operations based in Bor, located in the Jonglei State of South Sudan, in two groups in late February and mid-March, it said.South Korea first stationed the rotational PKO forces with the U.N. Mission in South Sudan in March 2013 and has r
Korea-U.S. to hold exercises against N.K. nuclear threats

Feb 22, 2016

The Ministry of National Defense said Monday that officials from South Korea and the U.S. plan to hold a tabletop exercise against nuclear threats from North Korea. 　The meeting, hosted by the allies’ Deterrence Strategy Committee, will postulate a situation in which Pyongyang poses threats with its nuclear program and missiles. Tabletop exercise refers to discussion-based sessions on contingency plans for simulated scenarios.　During the tabletop exercise, allies will assess North Korean threats
Defense ministry dismisses THAAD speculation as rumor

Feb 22, 2016

The Ministry of National Defense on Monday dismissed the growing speculation about South Korea's possible purchase of the U.S.-made THAAD missile defense system as a "mere rumor."Although the ministry has said it would not purchase a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system from the U.S., speculation has persisted that Seoul would acquire one or two THAAD batteries to counter Pyongyang's evolving nuclear and missile threats."(The speculation) is a mere rumor. It is not true," ministry spokespe
'Belated’ THAAD talks reflect bumpy road ahead

Feb 22, 2016

Observers say formal meeting may begin after U.N. resolution on N.K.
Senior U.S. diplomat to visit S. Korea for possible THAAD talks

Feb 22, 2016

A senior U.S. diplomat handling missile defense will visit Seoul next week for meetings with defense, foreign affairs and American military officials, the State Department said, suggesting the trip is related to the proposed deployment of the THAAD missile defense system to the South.Frank Rose, assistant secretary of state for arms control, verification and compliance, will be in Seoul from March 4-6 "for meetings with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, U.S. Forces Korea,
South Korea, U.S. Marines to intensify amphibious drill

Feb 21, 2016

South Korea and the United States Marines Corps. will intensify their joint amphibious drill in March, an official familiar with the matter said Sunday, in what could be seen as a retaliation against the recent nuclear test and long-range rocket launch by North Korea.The two Marines will strengthen their inland ground operations, which are conducted after landing in an amphibious vehicle, a South Korean military official told Yonhap News Agency on condition of anonymity.The two allies will try t
Kaesong shutdown will not affect nuclear development: Pyongyang

Feb 20, 2016

The recent shutdown of an inter-Korean industrial complex will not affect Pyongyang's nuclear program, as it started before the opening of the zone, North Korea said Saturday. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the mouthpiece of Pyongyang, said its development of nuclear and "space" programs will remain intact after the shutdown, adding that South Korea's plan to cut the funding of such moves by closing the complex will be unsuccessful. The South Korean government decided to close the
China sinks deeper into 'mire' of N. Korea's nuke gambit: state media

Feb 20, 2016

North Korea's defiant pursuit of nuclear weapons has pulled China "deeper into the mire," a newspaper published by China's ruling Communist Party said Saturday, as Beijing is under pressure to do more to curb Pyongyang's aggression. North Korea's Jan. 6 nuclear test and Feb. 7 launch of a long-range rocket have drawn international condemnations and fanned fears that the isolated country is moving ahead with the advance of its nuclear and missile programs. China is North Korea's top trading
Korea, U.S. conduct joint drill to brace for wartime situation

Feb 19, 2016

South Korea and the United States on Friday conducted a joint drill aimed at promptly dispatching American troops to the Korean Peninsula on the occasion of contingency, the South's Army said.Heightened tensions on the divided peninsula remain following North Korea's latest nuclear test and long-range rocket launch.The drill between South Korea's 2nd Operations Command and the 8th U.S. Army called for the South's Army to provide support for Washington's expedited dispatch of its soldiers to the
Drills to map out endgame scenario for Pyongyang

Feb 18, 2016

The Korea-U.S. joint Key Resolve drill in 2015 (Yonhap)Next month’s joint military drills by South Korea and the United States will simulate an endgame scenario for North Korea that has the military recover the entire territory of the peninsula after the collapse of the Kim Jong-un regime, a military official said Thursday.The relatively rare simulation -- military operations are usually focused on hitting the North Korean leadership in Pyongyang -- coincided with Defense Minister Han Min-koo sa
Seoul warns of N.Korean terror threat

Feb 18, 2016

The National Intelligence Service reported to the National Assembly on Thursday that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently ordered terrorist attacks in the South, which reportedly include kidnapping or poisoning government officials or North Korean defectors here. Saenuri’s Rep. Lee Cheol-woo, member of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, said that the North may target the country’s power supplies or public areas. He added members of the media who criticize the Kim regime may be vic
Korea-U.S. drills to map out N. K. endgame scenario

Feb 18, 2016

Next month’s joint military drills by South Korea and the United States will simulate an endgame scenario for North Korea that has the military recover the entire territory of the peninsula after the collapse of the Kim Jong-un regime, a military official said Thursday.The relatively rare simulation -- military operations are usually focused on hitting the North Korean leadership in Pyongyang -- coincided with Defense Minister Han Min-koo saying that the annual war games would be “the biggest ye
U.S. confirms launching THAAD talks with Korea

Feb 18, 2016

The United States and South Korea have launched official talks on the potential deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system to the South, a Pentagon official said Wednesday."I can confirm that the joint working group has met and that consultations are ongoing. The JWG is working 'expeditiously but meticulously,' so no timeline has been established for when consultations will be complete," Cmdr. Bill Urban, a Pentagon spokesman, told Yonhap News Agency.The spokesman did not provide furthe
USFK quits TOW missile use at its training site near border

Feb 17, 2016

American troops stationed in South Korea decided not to use so-called TOW anti-tank missiles at its shooting range close to the inter-Korean border after one of the missiles fired during training accidentally landed on a civilian area in December, the U.S. Eighth Army said Wednesday.One Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wired-guided missile, measuring some 50 centimeters in length, went astray during an artillery drill at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, northeast of Seoul, on Dec. 30