The Korea Herald

‘Act first’ order’s limits exposed

Oct 2, 2011

Critics say field commanders have limited authority to handle emergenciesThe military directive by Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin to “act first and report later” is not applicable to air-to-ground operations, officials said Sunday, triggering concerns that this could limit the Air Force’s ability to
Physical altercations highest in Navy: report

Sept 30, 2011

Navy soldiers have been more exposed to physical abuse compared to other military forces over the past several years, a lawmaker said Friday, calling for measures to curb violence in the barracks.A total of 4,670 cases of violence took place in the Navy between January 2005 and June this year, Rep.
Air Force under probe for lost files on wartime operational plan

Sept 30, 2011

South Korea's Air Force is under investigation for having lost classified documents on its aerial operational plan in case of war, a military official said Friday. (Yonhap News)Two secret military documents have been missing at the Air Force headquarters since late August, right after South Ko
Military needs more sailors, pilots

Sept 29, 2011

Harassment and abuse by senior officers still rampant: lawmakersThere will be a serious shortage of military sailors and pilots as the country is stepping up efforts to secure scores of new high-tech warships and aircraft to enhance national defense, a lawmaker claimed Thursday
Seoul denies it played down U.S. base relocation cost

Sept 28, 2011

Suspicion has been raised the Defense Ministry underreported the amount of money it would have to pay for a U.S. military relocation project in an apparent move to circumvent public criticism.A diplomatic cable revealed by WikiLeaks indicated that the ministry of the former Roh Moo-hyun government i
Defense budget up to raise combat readiness

Sept 27, 2011

No money set aside for project to purchase presidential airplaneThe government has earmarked some 33.15 trillion won ($28.13 billion) for the 2012 defense budget, up 5.6 percent from this year’s budget, aiming to make the military “truly combat-ready,” officials said Tuesday.It seeks to set aside 23
Soldiers indicted over national security law violation double: report

Sept 27, 2011

More than twice as many South Korean soldiers and officers have been charged with violating the anti-communist National Security Law in the current conservative government than in the previous liberal administration, a report showed Tuesday.The law strictly prohibits distribution of publications pra
DAPA continues to sign contracts with suppliers once accused of corruption

Sept 26, 2011

The state military acquisition agency has continued to sign contracts with local firms with a track record of irregularities, making it difficult to stamp out corruptive practices in defense deals, a ruling party lawmaker said Monday.Rep. Chung Mi-kyung of the Grand National Party said during the pa
Seoul may cancel Global Hawk purchase

Sept 26, 2011

U.S. surveillance planes cost almost five times the amount first budgeted forSouth Korea is seriously considering halting its plan to purchase Global Hawk surveillance planes as their price has more than doubled, a local daily reported Monday.Seoul has sought to deploy four of the high-altitude unma
Tanker drivers stole over 460,000 liters of military oil: report

Sept 26, 2011

Contractors employed to deliver oil to the military have stolen hundreds of thousands of liters over the past three years, a report revealed Monday, raising concerns about lax fuel management amid soaring energy costs.Tanker drivers siphoned off 462,000 liters of oil between 2009 and the beginning o
Deploying unmanned spy drones top priority for Army

Sept 26, 2011

SEOUL, Sept. 26 (Yonhap) -- Deploying unmanned surveillance aircraft is the most important task among the Army‘s armament plans to better monitor North Korea’s military activities, according to a lawmaker on Monday.It was the second time that the Army placed the deployment of spy drones at the top o
Seoul seeks own missile defense system

Sept 23, 2011

Preliminary study on missile shield system to be completed by year-endThe South Korean military is seeking to develop its own version of the Patriot missile system, which is capable of intercepting North Korean ballistic missiles and fighter jets, multiple sources said Friday.It is pushing to build
S. Korea to develop own Patriot missile to intercept N. Korean missiles: sources

Sept 23, 2011

SEOUL, Sept. 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is pushing for the development of its own version of advanced Patriot missiles to counter North Korean ballistic missiles, military sources said Friday.Multiple sources said the state-run Defense Agency for Technology and Quality (DATQ) will complete by the en
S. Korea, U.S. to discuss deterrence of N.K. threats

Sept 22, 2011

South Korea and the U.S. held their regular security talks in Seoul on Thursday to discuss security conditions on the Korean Peninsula and other alliance issues.Deputy Minister for Policy Lim Gwan-bin and Michael Schiffer, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia, led the 29th Securi
Plan to deploy new weapon in trouble

Sept 22, 2011

Report says one in 10 low-level officers needs psychiatric counselingThe military has questioned the ability of a new weapon planned for deployment next year to neutralize long-range artillery in North Korea, a lawmaker said Thursday.According to Rep. Kim Hak-song of the ruling Grand National Party,