The Korea Herald

Korea, U.S. ROTC cadets cement alliance

Jul 1, 2011

American cadets experience Korean culture, history and share military lifeSEONGNAM ― Their looks, languages and cultures were different. But it took only a few minutes for South Korean and U.S. Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets to become united while training together here at an Army training center on Thursday.Although they sweated profusely on this rainy but sweltering day, their smiles we
KAFS marks anniversary, thanks U.S. service members

Jul 1, 2011

Korea America Friendship Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the Korea-U.S. relationship, held its annual dinner party in Seoul on Thursday to celebrate its 20th anniversary and appreciate the service of U.S. troops here.The Korea America Friendship Night was attended by some 800 people including U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, 8th U.S. Army Commander Lieut. Gen. John D. Jo
15,000 military duty deferrers must retake physical exam

Jun 29, 2011

Some 15,000 men who have delayed their mandatory military service for the last several years will be notified to take another physical checkup next year under a 2007 law, the military recruitment agency said Wednesday. Under the military draft law, young men are to go through another checkup five years after taking the first one. Before the law was enacted in January 2007, men had taken only one c
S. Korea marks 9 years since West Sea clash

Jun 29, 2011

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs on Wednesday held a ceremony marking the ninth anniversary of a naval skirmish between the two Koreas, which resulted in several casualties on both sides.Some 2,000 people, including top military officials and members of the bereaved families, attended the ceremony at the Navy’s Second Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. Prime Minister Kim
U.S. general urges preparation for collapse of N.K. regime

Jun 29, 2011

WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― The incoming top American military commander in Korea said Tuesday that the United States and South Korea should prepare for the possibility of a regime collapse in North Korea.In his Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing, Gen. James Thurman, the nominee to lead 28,000 U.S. forces in South Korea, raised doubts over the North’s heir apparent, Kim Jong-un, w
Defense acquisition agency to retire 13 senior officials early

Jun 28, 2011

Thirteen senior officials of the state weapons acquisition agency will take early retirement later this month as the agency strives to slim-down its organization and improve its efficiency, officials said Tuesday.The personnel reorganization was the largest in scale since the establishment of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration in January 2006, they said.Most of the officials who chose
Army, university to create cyber defense course

Jun 28, 2011

The Army signed an accord with Korea University on Tuesday to establish a department for nurturing cyber warfare specialists as South Korea strives to bolster its capabilities to deal with North Korean cyber attacks.The ceremony to sign the agreement was attended by Army Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Sang-ki and Korea University President Kim Byung-chul.It is the first time for the military to establish
Defense Ministry steps up anti-corruption programs

Jun 27, 2011

The Ministry of National Defense will implement a stringent inspection system next month as the government strives to root out corruption and enhance public trust, officials said Monday.From October, it will also apply the property registration rule to more military officials in a bid to boost the anti-corruption drive.Such measures came as some 120 officials from the ministry, the Joint Chiefs of
Guns, grenades and iPads for Singapore soldiers

Jun 27, 2011

SINGAPORE, June 27, 2011 (AFP) - New recruits to Singapore's military, air force and navy are to get a new standard-issue item of equipment besides their rifle -- the iPad.The defence ministry said Monday it will be issuing "about 8,000" of the sleek, touch-screen tablet computers -- already wildly popular with the city-state's tech-savvy youth -- to recruits from November.The ministry said it was
Veterans see fruits of their sacrifices

Jun 24, 2011

Robert Hoyt (right), a Korean War veteran, and his grandson Quentin Backstrom pose for a photo after their visit to the Demilitarized Zone in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday.(Chung Hee-cho/The Korea Herald)PAJU ― Although it is his first visit to South Korea, Quentin Backstrom, a 16-year-old student from Philadelphia, is quite familiar with the country through the vivid memories of his grandfath
S. Korea, Sweden ministers discuss military cooperation

Jun 21, 2011

Defense chiefs of South Korea and Sweden discussed ways to enhance bilateral military exchanges and cooperation in the defense industry during their talks in Seoul on Tuesday, officials at the Ministry of National Defense said.Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his Swedish counterpart Sten Tolgfors also discussed regional security issues including North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and its missile dev
Defense chiefs of S. Korea and Sweden to hold talks

Jun 20, 2011

Defense chiefs of South Korea and Sweden will hold talks in Seoul on Tuesday to discuss ways to enhance bilateral military exchanges and cooperation in the defense industry, officials at the Ministry of National Defense said Monday.Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his Swedish counterpart Sten Tolgfors will also exchange views on issues concerning regional security and peace, officials said. Durin
‘No need for tactical nukes on peninsula’

Jun 20, 2011

USFK commander says timing of Seoul’s defense reform efforts is ‘right’U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. Walter Sharp said Monday that tactical nuclear weapons do not need to be redeployed here, underscoring the U.S. security commitment to South Korea.With the North continuing to launch military provocations, some here have raised the need to station U.S. nuclear weapons here, all of which were wit
Military won't reprimand Marines who mistakenly fired at civilian airliner

Jun 19, 2011

SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's military said Sunday it will not reprimand two Marines who fired rifles last week at a civilian jetliner after mistaking it for a North Korean military aircraft. The two Marines guarding an island near the tense Yellow Sea border with the North fired their K-2 rifles at the Asiana Airlines plane flying in sea fog in a pre-dawn incident on Friday. The plane
U.S. bill would suspend plan to move troops’ families here

Jun 19, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) ― A Senate committee is looking to block the reorganization of U.S. forces in east Asia, which it sees as too costly and impractical, the panel’s chairman said Friday.Legislation backed by the Senate Armed Services Committee would prohibit funding to relocate the U.S. Marine base in the southern Japanese island of Okinawa. It also would suspend plans to relocate thousands of famili