The South Korean military carried out a drill to deter trespassers on its easternmost islets of Dokdo on Monday, the Defense Ministry said. The drill began earlier in the day on the rocky outcroppings in the East Sea and in its surrounding waters with an aim to repel non-military forces that approach the islets via a sea or air route, according to the ministry.The exercise involved Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard officers, as well as around six destroyers and convoys, fighters and patrol p

The military is pushing to put the country's first indigenous salvage vessel into service to replace aging ships, officers said Monday, amid controversy over substandard equipment on the vessel.    The next-generation rescue and salvage ship Tongyong was launched in September 2012, two years after the sinking of the warship Cheonan by North Korea, to enable the military to effectively carry out rescue operations and tow away damaged vessels.   The 160 billion won ($154 million) vessel, however,

The South Korean military carried out a drill to deter trespassers on its easternmost islets of Dokdo on Monday, the defense ministry said.    The drill began earlier in the day on the rocky outcroppings in the East Sea and in its surrounding waters with an aim to repel non-military forces that approach the islets via a sea or air route, according to the ministry.   The exercise involved Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard officers, as well as about six destroyers and convoys, fighter jets and

The government launched a joint investigation team of prosecutors, military officers and government officials Friday in an effort to root out corruption in the country's defense industry. The move comes amid growing allegations of bribery and other underhand dealings between military officials and defense firms, as well as cozy relations between the arms procurement agency and retired service personnel at private defense companies.  The special team -- composed of 105 prosecutors, military prose

South Korea’s defense chief said Thursday he does not expect North Korea to carry out a nuclear test “at an early date,” with his ministry vowing to maintain a strong military posture against possible provocations by the North.In protest against a fresh United Nations resolution condemning its grave human rights situation, Pyongyang threatened to intensify its nuclear weapons deterrence.The website 38 North, run by the U.S.-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International St

South Korea has been closely watching North Korea's movements related to the operations of its nuclear facilities, the defense ministry said Thursday, vowing to maintain a strong military posture against possible provocations by the North.In protest against a fresh United Nations resolution condemning its grave human rights situation, Pyongyang threatened to intensify its nuclear weapons deterrence.The website 38 North, run by the U.S.-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced Inte

The arms procurement agency said Wednesday it will complete the deployment of some 100 next-generation battle tanks fitted with an indigenous engine and transmission by 2017.During a defense project committee meeting presided over by Defense Minister Han Min-koo, the government decided to deploy theK-2 Black Panther by the end of 2017, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).The development of the advanced combat vehicle had been delayed after it repeatedly failed to m

The government plans to establish a large-scale investigation team of civilian and military prosecutors, state auditors, police and taxation officials to stamp out rampant corruption in the local defense industry, officials said Monday.The details such as the launch date and the scale of the team have yet to be finalized, and the government is expected to make an announcement as early as next week, according to the officials.“As the team is designed to look into corruption in the defense industr

The South Korean Navy and the Marine Corps said Friday they plan to kick off a large-scale joint landing exercise later this week to bolster preparations against North Korea's provocations.   The six-day amphibious landing exercise starting Saturday will take place on the southeast coast of the Korean Peninsula as part of the military's ongoing annual war exercise of Hoguk (national protection), which involves all branches of service, according to officers.     The landing drill will involve som

Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea's largest carmaker, is expected to post record annual sales for India in 2014, thanks to strong demand for its all-new i20 supermini, company officials said Friday.    According to Indian data, Hyundai sales in the 10 months of this year rose 8 percent to 343,456 units. At the present pace, the carmaker's sales will likely exceed the record 391,276 units sold for the whole of 2012, officials said.   Hyundai sold 38,010 cars last month, up 5.6 percent from the year

The South Korean military plans to carry out a drill to deter trespassers on its easternmost islets of Dokdo later this month, a government source said Friday.    The drill is scheduled to take place on Nov. 24 on the rocky outcroppings in the East Sea and in its surrounding waters, aiming "to repel non-military forces that approach the islets via a sea or air route," a source said, requesting anonymity.   The planned exercise will involve some five to six destroyers and convoys as well as some

The South Korean and U.S. air forces will launch their regular joint military exercise this week to sharpen their combined defense ability, the South Korean military said Thursday.The twice-a-year aerial exercise, Max Thunder, was first launched in 2008 between the two countries' air forces to foster their joint training against potential North Korean threats. The upcoming drill is the two allies' second Max Thunder exercise this year, following the first one carried out in April.This year's exe