The Korea Herald

’N.K. has third most powerful cyber war capabilities’

Jun 7, 2012

Hackers attempt to steal military secrets, cripple information system of Seoul, intelligence chief saysNorth Korea’s electronic warfare capabilities are second only to Russia and the United States, a South Korean expert claimed Thursday.Professor Lee Dong-hoon of the Korea University Graduate School of Information Security said the North is running a special unit of 3,000 elite hackers under the direct control of its leader Kim Jong-un.“North Korea has been preparing for cyber warfare since the
Saenuri to launch panel for primary next week

Jun 6, 2012

The ruling Saenuri Party plans to form an election committee next week that will oversee its presidential primary, the party’s secretary general said Wednesday, balking at calls to launch a preparatory committee first to revise primary rules.Minor contenders such as Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo and Rep. Chung Mong-joon have called strongly for new primary rules, claiming the current system is favorable to former party chief Park Geun-hye.They demand the party first set up a primary pr
U.S. to sell $325 million of advanced arms to Korea

Jun 6, 2012

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― The United States is in the process of selling hundreds of cutting-edge weapons to South Korea, a deal expected to be worth $325 million, according to a defense agency here.The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said it has notified Congress of possible sales to South Korea of 367 cluster bombs and associated parts, equipment, logistical support and training.The bombs, formally the sensor-fuzed CBU-105D/B Wind Corrected Munition Dispenser (WCMD), are typically dropped
Security on Korean Peninsula worsens sharply in Q2: think tank

Jun 6, 2012

Security on the Korean Peninsula worsened in the second quarter of the year to one of the lowest levels in recent years, a report showed Wednesday, as North Korea launched a long-range rocket and escalated belligerent rhetoric against the South.The Samsung Economic Research Institute said in a report that its Korean Peninsula Security Index (KPSI), which is calculated based on a survey of about 40
U.S. to sell $325 million of advanced weapons to Korea

Jun 6, 2012

The United States is in the process of selling hundreds of cutting-edge weapons to South Korea, a deal expected to be worth $325 million, according to a defense agency here.The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said it has notified Congress of possible sales to South Korea of 367 cluster bombs and associated parts, equipment, logistical support and training. The bombs, formally the sensor-fuzed
Korea seeks balance between security partners and China

Jun 5, 2012

Seoul seeks to expand defense ties with Tokyo, Beijing as security uncertainty growsSouth Korea is walking a diplomatic tightrope as it seeks to achieve balance between its traditional security partners and the growing power of China in Northeast Asia.Seoul has been working with Japan over possible military agreements concerning logistics and information despite domestic opposition stemming from long-standing historic and diplomatic disputes.With China, South Korea is seeking an agreement facili
Pentagon defends sudden change of general in Korea

Jun 5, 2012

The Pentagon insisted Monday that the decision to replace the troubled leader of U.S. special forces in South Korea is not associated with his recent public blunder.Brig. Gen. Neil Tolley, commanding general of the Special Operations Command Korea, came under fire after he reportedly said in late May that some of his troops have been sent clandestinely into North Korea on spy missions.The Departme
U.S. military procurement from S. Korea up 12.6% in 2011

Jun 4, 2012

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― The U.S. military purchased more than $1.1 billion worth of South Korean goods and services in the 2011 fiscal year, an increase of 12.6 percent from $991 million in the previous year, according to a report released Sunday.In its annual report to Congress, based on statistics from the Federal Procurement Data System, the Defense Department said it spent a total of $374 billion for procurement activities for the year until September 2011.“Of that amount, approximately $
Korea, US, Japan agree to expand cooperation to deter N. Korea

Jun 2, 2012

South Korea, the United States and Japan agreed to strengthen cooperation in policy setting to better deter North Korean aggression, Seoul's defense ministry said Saturday.The ministry said the understanding was reached during a meeting of senior defense ministers at the two-day-long 11th Asia Security Summit under way in Singapore.South Korea's Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, U.S. Secretary of Def
US to shift most of naval fleet to Pacific by 2020

Jun 2, 2012

The United States will shift the majority of its naval fleet to the Pacific by 2020 as part of a new strategic focus on Asia, Pentagon chief Leon Panetta told a summit in Singapore on Saturday. The decision to deploy more ships to the Pacific Ocean, along with expanding a network of military partnerships, was part of a "steady, deliberate" effort to bolster the US role in an area deemed vital to A
Ministry calls for punishment of officer for criticizing Lee

May 29, 2012

The Defense Ministry called Tuesday for stern punishment for an Army officer indicted over his Twitter post critical of President Lee Myung-bak, saying the act of criticizing the supreme commander of the armed forces impedes military order and discipline.Military prosecutors have put the 29-year-old captain on trial recently on charges of insulting a superior in connection with his Twitter post criticizing President Lee with indecent language.The indictment was seen by some critics as restrictin
Ministry calls for stern punishment of Army officer over criticism of Lee

May 29, 2012

The defense ministry called Tuesday for stern punishment for an Army officer indicted over his Twitter posting critical of President Lee Myung-bak, saying the act of criticizing the supreme commander of the armed forces impedes military order and discipline.Military prosecutors have put the 29-year-old captain on trial recently on charges of insulting a superior in connection with his Twitter post
Korea seeks to acquire U.S. missiles, choppers

May 27, 2012

The U.S. Department of Defense is considering selling Harpoon Block II Missiles and Seahawk Helicopters to South Korea.The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in press releases last week that it had notified the U.S. Congress of the possible sale of 18 of the missiles, eight of the helicopters and their associated parts, equipment, logistical support and training. The estimated costs are $1.84 billion.The DSCA said it informed Congress of the proposal after a request by South Korea. Th
Caisson to be dropped in waters at Jeju naval base construction site

May 27, 2012

A large caisson structure to be used for building a breakwater off Jeju Island's naval base construction site has been moved into position, South Korea's Navy said Saturday.It said the 8,800-ton structure that is 38 meters long, 25 meters wide and stands 20 meters high has been placed on a floating dock and moved offshore near Gangjeong village.It said the caisson will be the third such unit deplo
Remains of S. Korean Korean War casualties return

May 25, 2012

The remains of 12 South Korean soldiers found north of the military demarcation line arrived in Seoul on Friday. It is the first time for the remnants of South Korean soldiers killed in the Korean War to be returned from North Korea since the cease-fire in 1953.“The Republic of Korea was defended as they fought at the risk of their lives. We have to find them, even their remains, who sacrificed their lives for the country, to the end. There are no greater patriots than them,” President Lee Myung