The Korea Herald

Seoul to deploy missiles covering whole of N.K.

Feb 13, 2013

South Korea is reinforcing its defense against North Korea including executing a new warfare plan against its weapons of mass destruction and deploying new cruise missiles capable of striking any North Korean location, officials said Wednesday. The Defense Ministry said it would unveil the new long-range missiles within the week. “We have developed and deployed a cruise missile system with world-class precision and destructive force that can strike any location in North Korea,” Defense Ministry
Seoul maintains high alert for possible further provocations

Feb 13, 2013

South Korean authorities maintained high alert on Wednesday over concerns of possible further provocations from Pyongyang including additional nuclear and missile tests.“North Korea appears likely to carry out further provocations using the UN Security Council’s strong measures as an excuse,” an official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade was quoted as saying by a local news agency. He added that it is unclear when the alert triggered by North Korea’s actions would be eased. Such specu
Military considers unmanned attack copters against N.K.

Feb 11, 2013

The South Korean military is pushing to develop unmanned attack helicopters capable of hitting North Korea’s front-line bases as a way to counter growing threats from the communist country, a senior military official said Monday.Seoul has been mulling ways to beef up deterrence and combat capability to cope with rising tension following Pyongyang’s warning of a third nuclear test in response to the U.N. sanctions for its December rocket launch. Last week, South Korea’s military chief warned of a
Navy pushes blue-water operations

Feb 7, 2013

South Korea’s chief of naval operations on Thursday vowed to bolster blue-water capabilities to handle not only North Korean threats but also a broader range of maritime challenges from overseas.During a security forum in Seoul, Adm. Choi Yoon-hee said he would push to change the paradigm of wartime theater operations for the Navy to assume an active, leading combat role. He also stressed the need for a strategic maneuver fleet.“The Navy will go beyond the current maritime operations concept und
Military commander hints at 'pre-emptive strike' on N. Korea

Feb 6, 2013

South Korea's top military commander said Wednesday that his military is ready to make a "pre-emptive strike" against North Korea, even at the risk of a full-scale war, if there are signs that the North may attack using nuclear weapons ahead of its third nuclear test.Gen. Jung Seung-jo, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made the remarks during a parliamentary defense meeting convened as tension runs high on the Korean Peninsula after Pyongyang vowed to conduct a nuclear test in retaliat
Seoul faces tough choices to contain N.K. nuke threat

Feb 6, 2013

Experts call for new military strategy, stronger security ties with the U.S.
Defense chief takes flak for leaving Seoul amid N.K. threat

Feb 5, 2013

Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin left for Saudi Arabia on Monday night for a defense cooperation deal despite growing tensions over North Korea’s preparations for a third nuclear test.Seoul officials defended his three-day visit, saying that the military was fully ready for all possible contingencies. They underscored that the bilateral pact would help bolster Korea’s defense industry and enhance its energy security.“We are all ready prepared for an emergency as we have made all the arrangements fo
S. Korea, U.S. to hold naval exercise amid signs of N. Korean nuclear test

Feb 2, 2013

(Yonhap) -- South Korean and U.S. forces will conduct a three-day joint naval exercise next week in the East Sea, military officials here said Saturday, a move seen as a warning to North Korea ahead of its possible nuclear test. "South Korea and the U.S. will launch the joint comprehensive military drills on Monday for a three-day run in the East Sea," a military official said. "It will include diverse exercises for anti-submarine, anti-aircraft and anti-ship training." The communist count
Defense chief calls for early deployment of 800-km missiles

Jan 31, 2013

South Korea's defense minister on Thursday ordered an early development and deployment of long-range ballistic missiles that can hit all parts of North Korea. Minister Kim Kwan-jin visited a front-line unit to urge the military to stay vigilant against any provocations from the North after it threatened a third nuclear test in response to the U.N.Security Council sanction for Dec. 12 rocket launch.His inspection came after President Lee Myung-bak warned of "grave consequences" against the North
Japanese media expresses concerns over Naro launch

Jan 31, 2013

Japanese media expressed deep concern over Korea’s scientific satellite launch on Wednesday. Major Japanese media reported the news on Thursday, arguing the event could antagonize North Korea.Yomiuri Shimbun said, “North Korea will resist South Korea’s rocket launch. This will be used as an excuse for its third nuclear test in the future.” NHK said, “South Korea is celebrating its first successful satellite launch with the assistance of Russia. Even so, there exists the possibility that North Ko
Korea has low corruption risk in defense sector: report

Jan 29, 2013

South Korea has a low risk of corruption in its defense sector, but it still needs to improve transparency, an international anti-corruption index showed Tuesday.The Transparency International’s defense and security program listed South Korea among seven countries in the “B band,” which means they have a “low risk” of corruption, based on detailed assessments of five main indicators: politics, finance, personnel, operations and procurement.Other countries included in the group were the United St
Military to create new senior NCO rank

Jan 27, 2013

The Defense Ministry seeks to establish a new senior-level rank in the non-commissioned officer system to secure more experienced, skillful personnel and boost their morale, officials said Sunday.It reported the plan to the presidential transition committee, they said. The plan could be put into action as early as later this year, officials predicted. “As the ministry plans to bolster the NCO number, the new rank will help ensure a clearer differentiation of troops in terms of their level of mil
Guideline for ’entertainment soldiers’ established

Jan 24, 2013

The Ministry of National Defense has set a new guideline for “entertainment soldiers” to regulate off-duty leave and leaving base on official duty. Celebrities serving as entertainment soldiers will receive the same amount of vacation as regular soldiers, according to the guidelines set by the Defense Ministry. In addition, entertainment soldiers will have to return to base by 10 p.m. should they leave for a performance. “An entertainment solider leaving base alone is strictly prohibited and he
USFK curfew to go on indefinitely: commander

Jan 18, 2013

U.S. troops in South Korea will continue to be restricted to their bases from 1 to 5 a.m. for "mission readiness," according to their top commander."This curfew is imposed due to operation and mission-readiness requirements," Gen. James Thurman, chief of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), said in a recent memorandum carried by the Stars and Stripes, a U.S. military newspaper. "I expect USFK will maintain an appropriate state of awareness and mission preparedness for a significant period."Former USFK
Korea develops mid-range GPS-guided bombs

Jan 14, 2013

South Korea has developed bombs equipped with global positioning system capable of targeting distant enemies day and night, the state arms development agency said Monday. The Agency for Defense Development and 20 defense firms, including LIG Nex1, have jointly developed the 225-kilogram guided bomb with a 40 billion won ($378 million) budget in the last five years to improve combat capabilities of fighter jets, it said.“The Korea GPS-guided bomb shows that South Korea is capable of developing a