The Korea Herald

New USFK commander vows readiness against N.K.

Oct 2, 2013

Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, a veteran commander who served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, took over the command of the U.S. Forces Korea on Wednesday with pledges to deter North Korean provocations alongside South Korean forces amid heightened threats.Scaparrotti officially replaced Gen. James Thurman in a change-of-command ceremony held at a U.S. Army base in central Seoul, which was co-hosted by visiting Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel and his Korean counterpart, Kim Kwan-jin, as well as other
Park pledges strong defense to render N. Korean nukes useless

Oct 1, 2013

(Yonhap) -- President Park Geun-hye said Tuesday South Korea will build strong defense capabilities to deter threats from North Korea and render its nuclear weapons useless. Park made the remark during an Armed Forces Day ceremony, saying the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia is "very grave" as North Korea is persistently pursuing nuclear weapons development in an effort to build more sophisticated bombs. "We have to build strong deterrence against North Korea
Seoul faces MD pressure

Oct 1, 2013

Observers say U.S. could link missile defense to OPCON transfer
Seoul shows off missiles targeting North Korea

Oct 1, 2013

South Korea staged a massive military parade with the latest indigenous missiles and weapons on Tuesday to celebrate the 65th Armed Forces Day.The Defense Ministry mobilized 11,000 soldiers at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, south of Seoul, as well as 190 kinds of ground equipment and 120 aircraft to commemorate the establishment of the nation’s armed forces in 1948. “This year’s Armed Forces Day celebration involves the largest number of forces and equipment since 2003,” the ministry said.Among the
Park vows stronger N.K. deterrence

Oct 1, 2013

Seoul stages largest military parade in decade, shows off strategic ballistic, cruise missiles
Park urges Japan to resolve grievances over colonial-era atrocities

Sept 30, 2013

South Korean President Park Geun-hye told U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Monday that Japan should first resolve long-running grievances over its sexual enslavement of Korean women and other colonial-era atrocities if the two neighbors are to build trust and improve ties. Park made the remark after Hagel talked about the importance of resolving historical problems and other issues between Seoul and Tokyo in order to establish a three-way security cooperation between South Korea, Japan an
Hagel focuses on vigilance on N.K.

Sept 30, 2013

U.S. defense chief to discuss OPCON transfer, N. Korea threats in top defense meeting in Seoul
Allies explore broader future role

Sept 30, 2013

Experts say South Korea, U.S. will continue to focus on N.K. threats and seek greater roles for peace and prosperity in region
U.S. defense chief makes symbolic visit to Korea's truce village

Sept 30, 2013

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel made a symbolic visit to the heavily armed truce village bordering North Korea on Monday, stressing its strategic importance in defending the Korean Peninsula.Hagel made the Demilitarized Zone tour his first order of an unprecedentedly long, four-day visit to the Asian ally ahead of an annual bilateral defense summit slated for Wednesday, which is expected to assess the North Korean threat and alliance issues with Seoul.Hagel shook hands with soldiers and sp
Hagel: Still early for decision on OPCON issue

Sept 30, 2013

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said it's premature to conclude a new deal with South Korea on its request for another delay in the transition of operational control (OPCON) of its troops in time of war."I don't think we'll be in a position to make any final decision," Hagel was quoted as telling reporters aboard a military plane heading to South Korea.He added, "I don't think anything is fixed for decades at a time. There's always a review and realignment of responsibilities and forces,"
No decision on extending U.S. wartime command of S. Koreans: Hagel

Sept 29, 2013

ABOARD A US MILITARY AIRCRAFT, United States (AFP) -- US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel late Saturday ruled out any quick decision on extending US wartime command over South Korea troops, a move authorities in Seoul are seeking."I don't think we'll be in a position to make any final decision," Hagel told reporters aboard the plane that was taking him to South Korea.In case of war with North Korea, the alliance between Washington and Seoul currently calls for the US military commander to lead the
S. Korea considering keeping reconstruction team in Afghanistan after next year

Sept 29, 2013

South Korea is considering keeping a team of reconstruction and aid workers in Afghanistan even after their mission ends next year, a senior government official said Sunday.South Korea's provincial reconstruction team (PRT) has been stationed in Afghanistan since 2010 to help rebuild the war-torn nation, building and operating a hospital, a police training center and other aid facilities in the northern province of Parwan.The facilities were handed over to the Parwan government last year, and th
S. Korea, U.S. defense chiefs to hold dialogue in Seoul

Sept 27, 2013

Defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States will meet next week in Seoul to discuss security issues on the Korean Peninsula and boost bilateral military ties as part of their annual dialogue, the government here said Friday. South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his American counterpart Chuck Hagel will have the annual Security Consultative Meeting on Wednesday to discuss rising threats posed by North Korea and whether to delay the planned transfer of wartime operational control
S. Korea, U.S. struggle to strike deal on USFK cost

Sept 27, 2013

South Korea and the United States remain apart over how much Seoul will contribute financially to the presence of American troops on the peninsula, South Korea's top negotiator said Thursday."There are still big differences in the positions of the two sides," Hwang Joon-kook, special ambassador for the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), told reporters after two-day talks here with his U.S. counterpart, Eric John.The allies are currently focusing not only on Seoul's appropriate share itself for th
F-5 fighter crashes in central S. Korea, pilot safely ejects

Sept 26, 2013

A South Korean F-5 fighter jet crashed into a mountain in the central part of the country Thursday, but the pilot ejected safely just before impact, the Korean Air Force said.The one-seater F-5E took off from an air base in Cheongju, about 137 kilometers south of Seoul, at around 10:48 a.m. for a training exercise, but it crashed into a mountain near Jeungpyeong shortly before noon, the Air Force said in a release. The 32-year-old Air Force captain, only identified by his surname Lee, ejected fr