South Korea - The Korea Times

KAI's bid to export Surion chopper to Philippines apparently fails

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer, has apparently failed in its bid to export its Surion choppers to the Philippines, an official at Seoul's arms procurement agency said Saturday.Late last year, the Manila government informed the South Korean embassy in the Philippines that it had opted to purchase the U.S.-made UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, the official said on condition of anonymity.The apparent failure came after a MUH-1 Marineon -- the Marine variant of the KUH-1 Surion helicopter -- crashed at a military airport in the southeastern city of Pohang in July, killing five of the six Marines aboard."We cannot make assumptions regarding the Philippines' decision-making, but various factors (including the chopper crash) appear to have influenced its final decision," the official told Yonhap News Agency.A KAI official said that his company has yet to be notified of Manila's decision."We have not been informed that anything has been finalized. ... Though Manila has said it has placed priority (on the U.S. chopper), it has yet to sign any contract (

Jan 5, 2019

VIDEO Seoul releases video to counter Tokyo radar claim

Ministry of National Defense spokeswoman Choi Hyun-soo speaks during a press conference at the ministry headquarters in Yongsan, Friday. YonhapBy Kim Yoo-chulThe South Korean defense ministry on Friday uploaded a video to YouTube in a step to refute Tokyo's claim that a South Korean naval ship locked its fire-control radar onto a Japanese P-1 patrol plane in international waters between the two countries.“The Ministry of National Defense released a YouTube video to counter Tokyo's claim that a South Korean naval ship locked its fire-control radar on a Japanese plane last month,” ministry spokeswoman Choi Hyun-soo told a press conference at the ministry headquarters in Yongsan.“The claim is simply groundless. The Japanese P-1 patrol plane had a low-altitude flight while the navy ship was conducting a rescue operation. Due to this situation, the rescue mission had been threatened.” Late Friday, Seoul's foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha spoke with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.The two exchanged opinions over the escalating spat and agree

Jan 4, 2019By Kim Yoo-chul

Seoul releases video to counter Tokyo radar claim [VIDEO]

VIDEO Korea releases video to counter Japan's radar claim

Defense Ministry spokesperson Choi Hyun-soo speaks during a media briefing at the ministry building in Seoul, Friday. YonhapSouth Korea on Friday released its own video clip to repudiate Japan's claims over an escalating spat involving military radar and renewed calls for Tokyo to stop distorting facts and to apologize over the incident.Seoul's defense ministry posted the video clip on YouTube, a week after Tokyo released its own footage to back up the claim that a South Korean warship had locked fire-control radar on its maritime patrol aircraft on Dec. 20.In the clip, the ministry reiterated that its 3,200-ton Gwanggaeto the Great destroyer did not target Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force's P-1 plane, as the vessel was focused on a humanitarian mission to rescue a North Korean boat in distress in the international waters of the East Sea.The ministry also reiterated that the Japanese plane was flying at low altitude, which was "threatening" to the destroyer."The release of our video clip is designed to provide accurate facts, after distorted facts have been disseminated to In

Jan 4, 2019

Korea releases video to counter Japan's radar claim [VIDEO]

Korea demands Japan's apology over radar row

Footage from a video released by Japan's defense ministry over the radar row / YonhapBy Kim Bo-eunSouth Korea's defense ministry demanded an apology from Japan, Thursday, over the latter's disputed claims that a Korean Navy ship aimed its fire control radar at a Japanese patrol plane in international waters.The ministry said it will release its own video as evidence the Japanese claims are wrong.Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe earlier blamed the use of fire control radar at Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force P-1 patrol aircraft, in an interview with Asahi TV on Tuesday. The defense ministry has repeatedly stated its Gwanggaeto the Great naval destroyer did not target the Japanese warplane on Dec. 20, as Japan claims in a video, which was reported to have been released on order from Abe.The ministry expressed “deep regrets” over Japan's behavior.In addition, it stressed Japan's warplane flying low over the South Korean naval destroyer had obstructed a humanitarian mission to rescue a North Korean ship that was drifting into international waters in the East Sea.It is th

Jan 3, 2019By Kim Bo-eun

Korea demands Japan's apology over radar row

Radar row worsens Korea-Japan ties

The footage provided by Japan's defense ministry on what it claims was the South Korean Gwanggaeto the Great destroyer's operation of a fire-control radar on a Japanese warplane. / YonhapBy Kim Bo-eunRelations between South Korea and Japan are going from bad to worse after Tokyo released footage last week of its warplane flying over a South Korean naval destroyer conducting a rescue mission in the East Sea.South Korea immediately protested the “act of threat” by a Japanese plane in international waters and the video release.This case is becoming a new source of diplomatic tension between the two countries, which have been in a growing feud in recent months over historical issues. Some observers say the new row represents a rift in military cooperation between Seoul and Tokyo over Pyongyang.The controversy is being fueled as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is reported to have ordered the release of the video.Japan's Ministry of Defense on Friday released a video clip of its Maritime Self-Defense Force P-1 patrol aircraft.The video was released to back up Japan's claim t

Dec 30, 2018By Kim Bo-eun

'Video release represents Abe's political intention'

Korea voices 'deep concern, regrets' about Japan's footage release amid radar spat

Choi Hyu-soo, the ministry's spokeswoman, speaks to reporters at the ministry building in Seoul, Friday. YonhapSouth Korea's defense ministry expressed "deep concerns and regrets" Friday over Japan's release of video footage related to an ongoing military radar spat, accusing Tokyo of releasing "misleading" facts.Japan released a 13-minute-long video clip showing the operation of its Maritime Self-Defense Force's P-1 patrol aircraft to back up its claim that a South Korean naval destroyer targeted the warplane with fire-control radar on Thursday last week.Seoul has rejected the claim, saying that its 3,200-ton Gwanggaeto the Great destroyer did not target the plane of the partner country and that it was on a humanitarian operation to trace a North Korean ship drifting into international waters of the East Sea."We express deep concerns and regrets over Japan's release of the footage just a day after the two sides held a working-level video conference to explore ways to dispel mutual misunderstandings and develop cooperative ties in the defense area," Choi Hyu-soo, the ministry's spoke

Dec 29, 2018

Korea voices 'deep concern, regrets' about Japan's footage release amid radar spat

Conscientious objectors to perform alternative duties in jails

Activists protest the Ministry of National Defense after it released a draft guideline aimed at having conscientious objectors serve alternative duty at correctional facilities for three years. YonhapBy Yi Whan-wooAble-bodied men who refuse to serve in the military for religious reasons will be subject to three years of alternative duty at correctional facilities, the Ministry of Defense said Friday.In its draft guideline for revision of the conscription law, the ministry also said alternative duty will become possible in January 2020.The move comes after the Supreme Court's ruling in June that religious faith is a valid reason to refuse military service and the law should be amended accordingly. The decision triggered a dispute over where, and for how long, the conscientious objectors should serve their alternative duty, so other conscripts, many of them serving the country under harsh conditions, do not feel left out emotionally.Rejecting military service because of religious faith was illegal in Korea and conscientious objectors were sentenced to 18 months in jail on average.&ldqu

Dec 28, 2018By Yi Whan-woo

Conscientious objectors to perform alternative duties in jails

S. Korea urged to renew defense cost sharing contract each year

By Lee Min-hyungU.S. President Donald TrumpThe ongoing defense cost sharing negotiations between Seoul and Washington have been brought back to square one, as the United States urges South Korea to renew the contract each year from the current five-year accord.The U.S. suggested the one-year renewal plan for defense cost sharing with South Korea during their recent dialogue in mid-December, according to diplomatic circles here. The South is known to have flatly rejected the suggestion, as this will pose a bigger financial burden on Seoul.Starting this March, both sides have engaged in the talks to renew the five-year contract, or the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), which expires at the end of this year. But no breakthroughs have been made in the dialogue, as both sides continue failing to narrow their differences on such points as the total amount of money each side has to cover and the contract's renewal term.The deadlock in the negotiation comes against the backdrop of U.S. President Donald Trump's hard-line stance on defense cost sharing. Since taking office last year, Trump ste

Dec 28, 2018By Lee Min-hyung

S. Korea urged to renew defense cost sharing contract each year

Conscripts' off-base activity to be permitted

South Korean solders will be allowed to enjoy more freedom. YonhapStarting next year, South Korea's rank-and-file soldiers will be allowed to go off base after work for several hours up to twice a month, in a policy change aimed at creating a more "liberal and creative" barracks culture, the defense ministry said Thursday.The ministry also plans to ease restrictions on vacation destinations for troops after consultations with provincial governments and representatives of local communities, in a way that does not negatively affect their readiness posture.In South Korea, all able-bodied male adults are obliged to serve in the military for about two years with strict exceptions.Over the past year, the ministry has been trying to devise ways to improve the culture in the military barracks, which has long been criticized as too closed and repressive for draftees mostly in their early 20s.Starting in February, troops will be allowed to leave their posts after work between 5:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. They can apply for their off-base time to meet their friends and relatives, get medical treatme

Dec 27, 2018

Conscripts' off-base activity to be permitted

Seoul under pressure to increase burden for defense cost sharing

By Lee Min-hyungThe United States is intensifying diplomatic pressure against South Korea to gain the upper hand in their ongoing negotiations for defense cost sharing.On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his discomfort over the dialogue, expressing his determination to continue pushing the South to increase its share of the cost.“We are substantially subsidizing the militaries of many very rich countries all over the world, while at the same time these countries take total advantage of the U.S., and our taxpayers, on trade,” Trump said in a Twitter post.He went on to say former U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, who resigned recently from his post, disagreed with Trump's idea on the defense cost talks.“General Mattis did not see this as a problem. I do, and it is being fixed,” Trump said.The remark came at a critical time when Seoul and Washington are at odds over the defense cost sharing dialogue. Both sides have to renew the five-year agreement, the Special Measures Agreement (SMA), which expires at the end of this year.Seoul has been sharing

Dec 26, 2018By Lee Min-hyung

Defense