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Fear grips Korean 'dreamers' in US

By Jane Han President Donald Trump's decision to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) initiative is worrying tens of thousands of young Korean “dreamers” in the United States. AFP-YonhapSAN FRANCISCO ― Tens of thousands of Koreans in the U.S. are in fear and uncertainty as they face an impending shutdown of a controversial immigration program that protected young people illegally brought to America by their parents from deportation.U.S. President Donald Trump announced earlier this week that his administration will rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, a policy shielding undocumented immigrants that was instituted via an executive order by former U.S. President Barack Obama in 2012.This dramatic shift in federal policy, which is set to take effect six months from now, is expected to impact an estimated 800,000 DACA beneficiaries, also known as dreamers, of which close to 20,000 are Koreans, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).This is dreadful news for many Korean families and comm

Sep 8, 2017
Fear grips Korean 'dreamers' in US

Can US attack N. Korea without Seoul's consent?

By Kim Jae-kyoungThe likelihood of a military confrontation on the Korean Peninsula is growing higher than ever in the wake of North Korea’s sixth nuclear test, Sunday.Following the North’s latest provocation, U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration have warned that any threat to the U.S., its territories including Guam or its allies “will be met with a massive military response.”Amid escalating tension between Washington and Pyongyang, questions are arising over whether the U.S. can take military action without South Korea’s consent if the North launches missiles toward U.S. territories, particularly Guam.This issue has become controversial after President Moon Jae-in, during his speech to mark Liberation Day on Aug. 15, said that without the consent of South Korea, no country can take military action.In response to Moon’s speech, Burwell Bell, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) commander from 2006 to 2008, said the U.S. would not need Seoul's approval to strike the North with its own “offshore” military assets.Military experts sa

Sep 7, 2017
Can US attack N. Korea without Seoul's consent?

THAAD deployment complete

In the top photo, riot police block protesters to make way for vehicles carrying four remaining launchers for a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) to the site in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. In the bottom photo, U.S. soldiers work to install launchers at the site. / YonhapMore than a year needed before full operation of batteryBy Jun Ji-hyeThe U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) bought in the four remaining launchers for its Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday morning, despite fierce protests from hundreds of residents.However, the Ministry of National Defense said it may take more than a year for the missile defense unit to be fully operational because of a pending environmental study regarding its radar.A THAAD unit is composed of six truck-mounted launchers, 48 interceptors (eight per launcher), an AN/TPY-2 radar and other ancillary equipment.Two launchers and the radar were already deployed at the site under the former Park Geun-hye government.The ministry stressed that, although the four additional la

Sep 7, 2017
THAAD deployment complete

Marines begin massive drills

By Yi Whan-wooThe Marine Corps said Thursday that it has begun massive exercises on Baengnyeong Island near the western inter-Korean maritime border beginning Tuesday.Led by the Northwest Islands Defense Command, the three-day drill involved all troops and combat assets of the 6th Marine Brigade, including AH-1S Cobra attack choppers, Korea Amphibious Assault Vehicles and M48A3K battle tanks.The drill took place partly in response to North Korea’s simulated invasion of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands, both in the West Sea, in late August.The two islands are strategically critical in defending Seoul and the surrounding areas from the North. They have been the locations of several military exchanges.The Marine Corps will conduct a separate exercise on Yeonpyeong Island later this month.“The three-day exercise was held day and night by taking North Korea’s latest simulated raid of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong islands as a possibility of a direct provocation, rather than routine training,” the Marine Corps said. “We’re ready to punish any possible pro

Sep 7, 2017

US officer warns of possible contingencies in N. Korea

Participants of the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD) 2017 pose for a photo after the opening ceremony at the Westin Chosun Hotel in central Seoul, Thursday. Some 500 defense officials and security experts from 38 countries and four international organizations attended the annual security forum amid growing threats on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea’s sixth nuclear test. / Courtesy of Ministry of National DefenseBy Jun Ji-hyeA U.S. intelligence officer said at a security forum in Seoul Thursday that the world should brace for multiple contingencies in North Korea.Markus Garlauskas, an intelligence officer for North Korea at the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), said change could come quickly, and unexpectedly.Markus Garlauskas“We should be prepared for multiple contingencies, one of which might lead to catastrophic failure of deterrence in a crisis,” he said at the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD).The SDD is an annual forum of vice minister-level defense officials and security experts, which began Wednesday for a three-day run.Garlauskas stressed that the in

Sep 7, 2017
US officer warns of possible contingencies in N. Korea

Four more THAAD launchers deployed amid protests

/ YonhapFour more rocket launchers for a U.S. missile defense system were deployed in South Korea Thursday after police removed hundreds of protesters from the site.Clashes occurred throughout the night as some 400 residents fought off police officers near their community center in Seongju, some 300 kilometers south of Seoul, where the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system has been partially deployed on a military base.Police dispersed the residents around 5 a.m. but only after dozens of locals and police officers sustained injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals."The current administration, like the former Park Geun-hye administration, is committing an illegal act," said a local official. "We cannot accept THAAD under any conditions."The THAAD equipment was carried by about 10 U.S. military vehicles from Osan Air Base, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul. Police said some 8,000 officers were sent to the area near the deployment site.Two truck-mounted launchers and a powerful X-band radar are currently in operation at the base. A THAAD battery is known to require at le

Sep 7, 2017
Four more THAAD launchers deployed amid protests

4 more THAAD launchers to be deployed Thursday

Residents and activists chant slogans during a rally against the planned deployment of the four remaining launchers of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in the southeastern county of Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeThe U.S. military plans to deploy the four remaining launchers for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in the southeastern county of Seongju, Thursday, despite strong opposition from residents and activists, the defense ministry said Wednesday.The ministry said the government has decided to allow the United States Forces Korea (USFK) to carry out provisional construction work needed to operate the battery and bring the remaining four launchers to the site.Two launchers and an AN/TPY-2 radar for the missile defense system were already deployed there under the former Park Geun-hye government.“The deployment is to be better prepared for North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, and to deal with the grave national security situation,” the ministry said.   The USFK will move

Sep 6, 2017
4 more THAAD launchers to be deployed Thursday

Supporters of nuclear armament raise voices

By Choi Ha-youngRep. Won Yoo-chul Some conservative lawmakers are calling for South Korea to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to develop its own nuclear weapons as a balancing act against a nuclear North Korea.Their demand is mostly being ignored, but supporters of nuclear armament are raising voices following North Korea’s sixth nuclear test.The most vocal is Rep. Won Yoo-chul of the Liberty Korea Party (LKP). Won, who has long advocated for the nation’s own nuclear armament, is stepping up his call. The five-term lawmaker has led the “Nuclear Forum” composed of 26 LKP lawmakers.During the conference in which eight LKP lawmakers participated, Won reiterated the necessity of nuclear armament as self-defense. “In order to prevent the Kim Jong-un regime’s provocation based on misjudgment, South Korea needs its own nuclear deterrence,” he said Monday.“The Republic of Korea, with its economic power and science technology, is capable of arming itself with nuclear weapons and becoming more powerful than the North,

Sep 6, 2017
Supporters of nuclear armament raise voices

US-N. Korea peace treaty would be 'disaster'

By Kim Jae-kyoungThe United States should never sign a peace treaty with North Korea just to control the reclusive country’s nuclear threats, experts on the North warned Wednesday.The warning comes after Pyongyang conducted its sixth nuclear test Sunday, the most powerful one to date, claiming it successfully exploded a hydrogen bomb that was small enough to be loaded onto its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).With the North closer to becoming a nuclear weapons state, there is growing expectation that Pyongyang will demand a peace treaty with Washington by calling for the withdrawal of U.S. forces from South Korea and a guarantee of the regime’s security.The experts said such a move would be North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s strategy to delegitimize South Korea and make any affairs on the Korean Peninsula a U.S.-North Korea bilateral issue.“(The U.S.) signing a peace treaty with the North is just about the worst thing we could do,” Sean King, a New York-based political analyst and East Asia specialist, told The Korea Times. He pointed out

Sep 6, 2017
US-N. Korea peace treaty would be 'disaster'

China should step up on North Korea

Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk speaks during an interview with The Korea Times in his office at the Ministry of National Defense, Seoul, Tuesday. / Courtesy of Ministry of National DefenseVice defense minister calls for Beijing’s greater role in resolving tensions By Jun Ji-hyeChina should play a greater role in stopping North Korea from repeating its nuclear and missile tests, according to South Korea’s Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk.Suh called for Beijing to cooperate with the international community more actively for additional, harsher sanctions on the North that conducted its sixth nuclear test Sunday in defiance of previous U.N. Security Council resolutions.“North Korea continues its strategic provocations despite sanctions and pressure. It has conducted six nuclear tests so far, and this year alone it has launched ballistic missiles 13 times,” Suh said during an interview with The Korea Times, Tuesday.“It is important for the international community to cooperate to prevent additional provocations, and I think China, which has a specia

Sep 6, 2017
China should step up on North Korea
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