The Korea Herald

[Graphic News] U.S. to slash ground troop level to lowest since 1940

Feb 25, 2014

The U.S. Department of Defense on Monday announced plans to curtail the number of ground troops to between 440,000 and 450,000 by 2017, the lowest level since 1940 when the number of active-duty soldiers stood at around 267,000.The sharp drawdown is part of efforts to reduce Washington’s financial woes. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said that as a result of large budget cuts, U.S. forces would assume additional risks in “certain areas” including training and maintenance.Some analysts say that th
N. Korean patrol ship violates western sea border amid family reunions

Feb 25, 2014

A North Korean patrol ship violated the tensely guarded western maritime border several times Monday night, but it retreated after repeated South Korean military warnings, Seoul's defense ministry said Tuesday.The North Korean vessel crossed the Northern Limit Line, a de facto maritime border, at around 10:46 p.m. Monday, and sailed to a location about 23.4 kilometers west of South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island in the Yellow Sea.The ship returned to its territory at around 2:25 a.m. Tuesday after th
Pentagon to shrink ground force to around 444,000

Feb 25, 2014

The Pentagon announced plans Monday to reduce the number of ground troops to the lowest level since before World War II as part of efforts to cut budgets.It is still unclear whether or how it will affect the operation of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea, officials said.Under the proposal unveiled by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, the Army will be downsized to between 440,000 and 450,000 soldiers by 2017. The current force is 520,000. "We are repositioning to focus on the strategic challen
Korea, U.S. to conduct 'low-key' military drills

Feb 23, 2014

South Korea and the United States will carry out their annual joint military drills in a "low-key" manner from this week, the military said Sunday, amid the ongoing reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War.The allies will hold the computer-based command post exercise, called Key Resolve, from Monday to March 6, involving about 10,000 South Korean and 5,200 American forces, with 1,100 coming from overseas U.S. bases. The two allies also plan to hold a combined field training drill
Army opens front-line combat roles to women

Feb 20, 2014

Female soldiers will be able to apply to all combat roles in the Army starting this year, as part of the military’s efforts to integrate more women into closed units, the defense ministry said Thursday. The Army will allow all female soldiers and noncommissioned officers to apply for artillery and armored units and air defense forces in a bid to lower the gender barrier. The Army Military Academy will also open the door for 20 female cadets next year for the first time since its establishment in
S. Korea, Germany hold defense meeting to expand ties

Feb 18, 2014

South Korea and Germany held a high-level defense talk on Tuesday to discuss regional security issues and arrange military exchange programs between the two nations, Seoul's defense ministry said.Lee Jeong-gyu, South Korea's defense ministry international policy director, met with his German counterpart Thorsten Kahler to explore ways to expand cooperation in international peacekeeping operations and exchange programs between the two nations' armed forces.The two sides also shared opinions on th
Seoul to sign deal to buy Global Hawks in first half

Feb 13, 2014

South Korea plans to finalize the deal on buying four Global Hawks from Northrop Grumman in the first half of this year for better surveillance capability on North Korea, a senior acquisition official said Thursday. Last year, Seoul received sales approval from the U.S. for the high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicles, which are sold only through the Foreign Military Sales program. The state-run Defense Acquisition Program Administration in April 2013 sent a letter of request and r
S. Korea completes delivery of 16 T-50 trainers to Indonesia

Feb 13, 2014

South Korea has completed the delivery of 16 T-50 supersonic trainer jets built by the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) to Indonesia, the Korean aircraft maker said Thursday, paving the way for expanding bilateral defense cooperation.After signing a $400 million deal in 2011, KAI said it delivered 16 T-50i planes between September and January using ferry flights via Taiwan and the Philippines.On Thursday, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hosted a ceremony celebrating its deployment
S. Korean Cabinet approves notes on defense cost deal with U.S.

Feb 11, 2014

The South Korean Cabinet approved two exchanges of notes on Tuesday that are linked to a new defense cost-sharing pact with the United States.Last month, the allies struck a deal to renew the Special Measures Agreement aimed at jointly footing the cost of stationing the 28,500 United States Forces Korea troops on the Korean soil.Under the deal, South Korea agreed to pay 920 billion won ($867 million) this year for the upkeep of the U.S. troops, a 5.8 percent increase from a year earlier. The pac
Seoul voices concerns over Japan's push for collective self-defense

Feb 11, 2014

South Korea called on Japan Tuesday to stop making "regressive" remarks on its past wrongdoings and refrain from causing regional instability by pushing for its collective self-defense amid lingering suspicions. Japan's move to expand its military role has won support from the United States, but caused alarm in South Korea and some other Asian nations where it is viewed as re-militarization."A country has the right to decide on its self-defense," defense ministry Kim Min-seok said in a briefing.
DP calls for Cabinet reshuffle

Feb 7, 2014

The main opposition Democratic Party on Friday demanded President Park Geun-hye replace her ministers and secretaries amid growing criticism over their poor performance and controversial remarks.On Thursday evening, President Park fired Minister of Oceans and Fisheries Yoon Jin-sook for her inappropriate comments and gesture regarding a massive oil spill in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province.While inspecting the accident site, Yoon was seen covering her nose to avoid smelling the spill and said she th
Seoul welcomes Virginia legislature for East Sea bill

Feb 7, 2014

South Korea on Friday welcomed the passage of a bill in the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly that calls for using the Korean name for the body of water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, alongside the currently used Japanese name.The Virginia House of Delegates passed the bill on Thursday, requiring the use of the Korean name “East Sea” to be added to all new public school textbooks in the U.S. state, along with “Sea of Japan.” Currently, the Japanese name is used to refer to th
S. Korea, U.S. Marines complete two-week armed march

Feb 7, 2014

A contingent of South Korean and U.S. Marine Corps has completed its two-week armed march along the eastern mountainous region and carried out drills to improve their combat capabilities, military officials here said Friday.After finishing a grueling winter survival camp, about 300 Marines of the allies started their march at Mount Hwangbyeong in the northeastern province of Gangwon on Jan. 26 to walk down 381 kilometers to the southeastern port city of Pohang, the South Korean Marine Corps said
S. Korea, U.S. hold working-level meeting on cybersecurity

Feb 7, 2014

South Korea and the United States held their first working-level meeting on cybersecurity Friday to discuss ways to develop joint cyberwarfare capabilities and an emergency response system, Seoul's defense ministry said.The meeting comes after defense ministries of the two nations last year agreed to launch the Cyber Cooperation Working Group in light of a series of large-scale hack attacks into South Korean networks, which was believed to have been masterminded by North Korea.During the first m
Allies to apply ‘tailored deterrence’

Feb 6, 2014

Seoul to begin project to construct DMZ peace park this year