The Defense Ministry on Tuesday replaced the head of its key intelligence organization, apparentlyholding him accountable for failing to give timely and appropriate advice with regard to a series of recent fatal incidents in the barracks.The ministry appointed Lt. Gen. Cho Hyun-chon to lead the Defense Security Command, replacing Lt. Gen. Lee Jae-soo, who took the post just a year ago.It was part of the regular shake-up of generals. Many viewed it as a de facto dismissal of Lee from the post.The

The South Korean military seeks to dispatch one medic each to all of the frontline outposts and establish a medical transportation unit to increase the chances of border troops surviving accidents, the Army said Sunday.The move comes amid increasing calls to enhance the military medical system for border units. A shooting spree in a border unit in June brought to the fore the difficulties in offering swift medical support to remote bases near the inter-Korean border.“When an emergency occurs in

The United States on Tuesday made the Korean Peninsula the only exception to its pledge not to use anti-personnel landmines, citing the peninsula's "unique circumstances" and its commitment to South Korea's defense.   The White House announced the pledge, also vowing to destroy stockpiles of anti-personnel landmines that are "not required for the defense of South Korea." It also said the U.S. won't assist, encourage or induce anyone outside the peninsula to engage in activity banned under the Ot

South Korea’s government must revamp its outdated procurement policy to help fuel the growth of its helicopter industry that possesses good export potential, local experts said Thursday.In a meeting hosted by Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. in Seoul, researchers, government officials and state agencies that use choppers called for changes at the policymaking and legislative levels to streamline purchasing procedures and enhance maintenance for safe operations.South Korea was the 11th country in

One Marine Corps recruit was killed and two others were injured on Tuesday when a hand grenade exploded during a training session in the southeastern port city of Pohang, military officials said. The accident took place at around 10:20 a.m. at the drill camp of the South Korean Marine Corps when a hand grenade suddenly exploded, severing the hand of one Marine recruit with shrapnel while wounding another recruit and one instructor, they said.The 19-year-old who threw the grenade died in the afte

South Korea and the U.S. are seeking to finalize the date of and conditions for the transfer of wartime control of Korean troops back to Seoul during next month’s meeting of their defense ministers, an official here said Tuesday.Since last year, the allies have been discussing the delay in the transfer of the U.S.’ wartime operational control of local troops, previously set for 2015. How long the transfer should be delayed or whether it should be delayed at all has been a source of intense debat

South Korea went ahead Monday with an annual event marking a landmark military operation carried out in this port city during the 1950-53 Korean War, despite North Korea’s denouncement of the ceremony.A day earlier, North Korea’s Peaceful Reunification of Korea, a government body handling affairs with Seoul, denounced the annual event marking the Incheon landing operation as an “unpardonable challenge” to the peace-promoting philosophy of the Incheon Asian Games as well as an “unbearable provoca

Some of the land that South Korea has offered to the U.S. military has been left unused or poorly managed, according to government data.The Seoul government has offered land for 68 U.S. military facilities and training fields ― a total of about 99 million square meters ― under the Status of Forces Agreement governing the legal status of 28,500 U.S. military personnel stationed here. The entire plot is about 34 times larger than Yeouido Island in Seoul. The U.S. has been offered the right to use

The Ministry of National Defense is seeking to revise the national mobilization system to allow the military to use reservists and civilian vehicles during peacetime crises as it strives to ensure a rapid response to future North Korean provocations.The move, albeit with an intent to strengthen national defense against an unexpected attack, has triggered concerns that it could restrict citizens’ basic rights including their property rights.“(The ministry) will seek legal revisions to rapidly mob

A parcel containing a knife, suspicious powder and a threatening letter has been sent to South Korea's defense chief, prompting authorities to launch a probe, the ministry said Friday.The package addressed to Defense Minister Han Min-koo contained a 32.8-centimeter kitchen knife and some 20 grams of white powder with a two-page letter, according to the ministry, noting that the suspicious powder was later found to be flour.The letter sent by the "International Peace Action Corps" reads, "Why are