South Korea - The Korea Times

South Korea protests over Chinese military aircraft intrusion

Is China testing the South Korean military’s capability? / YonhapBy Jung Min-hoThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned China’s ambassador to South Korea Tuesday after Chinese military aircraft intruded on its air defense identification zone (KADIZ), a ministry official said Wednesday.“First Vice Foreign Minister Lim Sung-nam summoned the ambassador (Qiu Guohong) Tuesday night to file a complaint and urge him to ensure that it doesn’t happen again,” the official said.“We are working closely with the defense ministry to share information about the incident.”It came after the Chinese jet flew over South Korea’s territorial waters for more than four hours ― from its southern end to Ulleung Island in the East Sea ― before leaving the KADIZ.The Joint Chiefs of Staff said the jet is believed to be a reconnaissance plane. It said the flight route was different from China’s previous dispatch of warplanes into the zone.It was unprecedented for China’s military aircraft to fly so close to South Korea’s eastern airspace with

Feb 28, 2018

South Korea protests over Chinese military aircraft intrusion

Top presidential security adviser meets with North Korean delegates in Seoul

South Korean President Moon Jae-in's top security aide held talks Monday with high-level North Korean delegates to the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said.Chung Eui-yong, chief of the National Security Office, met the North Korean delegates for lunch at a Seoul hotel, according to the office."The two sides noted the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games have provided a meaningful opportunity to realize the Olympic spirit of peace and unity, as well as for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the restoration of the South-North Korean relationship, and agreed to continue working together even after the end of the Olympics to enable the establishment of lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, sustainable development of the South-North relationship and cooperation with the international community," Cheong Wa Dae said in a statement.The meeting came one day after Moon met Kim Yong-chol, the chief of the eight-member North Korean delegation, who told Moon that his country was willing to hold talks with the United States.Inter-Korean dialogue was resumed

Feb 26, 2018

Top presidential security adviser meets with North Korean delegates in Seoul

Twin brothers respond to call of duty with ROK Navy

Sgt. Lee Dong-geun, left, and his twin brother Lee Tae-geun, right, pose with Republic of Korea Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Um Hyun-seong at a naval base in Heuksando, South Jeolla Province, on Feb. 1. / Courtesy of ROK NavyBy Jhoo Dong-chanThree pairs of twins are fulfilling their duties to the country in the navy.According to Republic of Korea Navy (ROKN), Petty Officer 2nd Class (PO2) Lee Dong-geun and his twin brother Lee Tae-geun are serving at a naval base in Heuksando, South Jeolla Province. They joined the Navy together in 2016, but were separated after boot camp training as Dong-geun was sent to one of the country’s southernmost islands while Tae-geun was first stationed in Busan, a big southeastern port city. Tae-geun wished to serve together with his brother, and the Navy helped him realize his wish January last year, by transferring him to the Heuksando base.They have since served together at the base as military police, and were nominated for the Navy’s model soldier award last year for their exemplary service to the country. ROKN Chief of Staff Admiral Um Hy

Feb 19, 2018

Black Eagles jet crashes in Singapore

A T-50B aircraft of the Air Force’s Black Eagles aerobatic team participating in the Singapore Air Show skidded and crashed on the runway at Changi Airport, Tuesday. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooA T-50B jet of the Korean Air Force’s Black Eagles aerobatic team skidded off a runway at Singapore’s Changi Airport and caught fire during an air show, Tuesday, according to the local civil aviation authority.“One aircraft of the Black Eagles aerobatic team from the Korean Air Force skidded and crashed into the grass verge on the side of Changi Airport’s Runway 1 and caught fire,” the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said.The aircraft was about to take off to perform in the air show’s opening flight demonstration. The biennial aerospace event will run through Sunday. “The aircraft was taking off for the flying display program at the air show. The Airport Emergency Service responded to the incident immediately and the fire was extinguished. The pilot sustained light injuries and is being treated,” it added.The Korean Air Force also

Feb 6, 2018

Ruling party rebuts US claims on defense cost

By Choi Ha-youngRep. Kim Tae-nyeonRep. Kim Tae-nyeon, chief policymaker of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said Tuesday that South Korea is already paying enough for the presence of U.S. forces here.“The U.S. demand that South Korea pay more for U.S. Forces Korea is unreasonable,” Kim said during a party meeting. “The government estimates that South Korea covers at least 50 percent of the costs for the troops. Also, Seoul bore over 90 percent of the expenditure for the expansion of Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek.”Kim’s remarks came as Seoul and Washington are preparing to begin talks soon to deal with the cost sharing issue. Experts here forecast the Donald Trump administration will demand up to 1 billion dollars from South Korea. “Korea’s cost sharing is exceptionally high compared to other U.S. allies,” Kim said. “Korea pays 0.061 percent of its GDP to cover the costs for the USFK. This is higher than Japan’s 0.038 percent and Germany’s 0.013 percent.” He also noted that the USFK works for mutual bene

Feb 6, 2018

Ruling party rebuts US claims on defense cost

Defense ministers to discuss drills

By Lee Min-hyungDefense Minister Song Young-moo will hold ministerial talks with his U.S. counterpart James Mattis in Hawaii, Friday, on rearranging the schedules for their delayed joint military exercises.According to the Ministry of National Defense, Song and Mattis agreed to hold an in-depth discussion on a series of pending issues during the meeting.In particular, the postponed Korea-U.S. military drills are expected to be the key theme of the gathering with other high-ranking military officials.This comes weeks after President Moon Jae-in and U.S. President Donald Trump reached an agreement to postpone the joint exercises until after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics next month.The decision came in response to North Korea’s vow it would not take any provocative military actions during the sporting event.Song and Mattis will share their security stance on the Korean Peninsula and a set of measures for them to hold a safe and peaceful Olympics, according to the defense ministry.“South Korea and the U.S. are still in talks over the exact schedules for the joint military d

Jan 25, 2018

US imposes new sanctions on North Korea over weapons programs

 / YonhapThe United States on Wednesday imposed new sanctions on a slew of entities and individuals over their links to North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.The Treasury Department said in a statement it is sanctioning nine entities, including two Chinese firms, 16 North Korean individuals and six North Korean vessels."Treasury continues to systematically target individuals and entities financing the Kim regime and its weapons programs, including officials complicit in North Korean sanctions evasion schemes," Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin said, referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.The U.S. is also targeting "illicit actors" in China, Russia and elsewhere with links to the North's financial networks, and calling for their expulsion, he said. (Yonhap)

Jan 25, 2018

US imposes new sanctions on North Korea over weapons programs

VIDEO 'Pre-Olympic military parade will give North Korea PR advantage'

N. Korea aims to simultaneously fire multiple nukes: CIA

 / YonhapNorth Korea is pushing to acquire the capability to fire multiple nuclear missiles at the same time, increasing the threat posed to the United States, the head of the Central Intelligence Agency said Tuesday.Speaking at the American Enterprise Institute, CIA Director Mike Pompeo also said the U.S. mission is to extend that timeline as much as possible."Kim Jong-un will not rest with a single successful test," he said, referring to the North Korean leader. "The logical next step would be to develop an arsenal of weapons that is not one, not a showpiece, not something to drive on a parade route ... but rather the capacity to deliver from multiple firings of these missiles simultaneously."Pyongyang last year conducted its first tests of an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the mainland U.S. It also detonated its sixth nuclear bomb.Pompeo has repeatedly said that North Korea is just months away from having the ability to nuke the U.S."I want everybody to understand that we are working diligently to make sure that a year from now I can still tell you the

Jan 24, 2018

N. Korea aims to simultaneously fire multiple nukes: CIA

Soldiers' salary to rise 87.8%

By Kwak Yeon-sooSalaries for enlisted soldiers will be raised by 87.8 percent starting this month, according to the Ministry of National Defense, Thursday.According to the new pay system, the monthly salary for a sergeant will go from 216,000 won to 405,700 won, and pay for a private, from 163,000 won to 306,100 won.The pay raise of enlisted soldiers was one of President Moon Jae-in’s campaign pledges. The government aims to increase the salary gradually to 676,100 won for a sergeant by 2022 and 510,100 won for a private, with the aim of helping soldiers save some money before being discharged.“If the salary is hiked as planned by 2022, soldiers will be able to save around 6 million won by the time they are discharged, which is about the tuition for one semester at college,” a ministry official said.

Jan 18, 2018

South Korea to build artificial reefs to block illegal Chinese fishing boats

South Korea will install additional artificial reefs near the western maritime border with North Korea to prevent illegal fishing by Chinese vessels, the provincial government said Saturday.Incheon Metropolitan City said it will install artificial reefs around the five northwestern border islands in the Yellow Sea, including Baengnyeong and Daecheong, to prevent illegal trawling by Chinese boats.The central government and Incheon have placed about 800 man-made underwater structures, which range in size from 2 tons to 53.5 tons, in the western sea since 2013.Artificial reefs are man-made underwater structures that mimic some of the characteristics of natural reefs to protect marine resources. They are also effective at preventing illegal trawling.Chinese trawlers have taken advantage of tensions between the two Koreas: the South's Coast Guard does not actively crack down on Chinese ships near the high-tension western sea border since doing so could trigger an accidental clash with the North.In July, North Korea condemned the artificial reef structures as part of Seoul's military provo

Jan 14, 2018

Defense