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Defense

S. Korean military says hacking threats growing

Hacking attempts on the South Korean military's computer networks have increased recently amid strained ties with China and North Korea's continued belligerence, a defense official said Tuesday."Recently, attempts to breach (our) cyber networks have somewhat increased," Moon Sang-gyun, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, said at a press briefing.But there has been no actual damage, he added.He did not elaborate on the source of the cyberthreats he mentioned.Earlier in the day, a local news outlet reported that the number of cyberattacks against the South Korean military has sharply risen since it took over a golf course in the southeast for the positioning of the cutting-edge U.S. missile defense system, widely known as THAAD, last month. China is staunchly opposed to the allies' move to beef up their capability to intercept North Korea's missile.The number of anti-military hacking attempts totaled 44 between March 9 and 15, according to the report. Moon would not confirm the cited figure.He dismissed concerns about the possible vulnerability of the military's intranet,

Mar 21, 2017

Military dismisses China's THAAD claims

By Yi Whan-wooThe South Korean military has dismissed China’s claims that the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system being set up here this year is aimed at monitoring the Chinese military.“The allies would have to have public consent first for the THAAD battery to be used against China,” the military said in a statement Sunday. “But this will never happen because it is purely defensive against only North Korea.”The statement said China was repeating false arguments that THAAD’s long-range radar can be used to spy on military activities when the missile defense system was fully deployed here.Pointing out that THAAD was exclusively aimed at deterring North Korea’s ballistic missile attacks, the officials said any attempt to alter the direction of THAAD components, such as the radar and launch pad, toward China would face “military and technical limitations.”To sort out such limitations and make alterations, U.S. military forces stationed in South Korea would need to consult the Seoul government.The government then

Mar 19, 2017

THAAD battery to be tested in April

By Jun Ji-hyeThe U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery being located here will undergo operational testing in April after the delivery of the remaining equipment, including its radar, is completed this month, military sources said Thursday.The first parts of the advanced missile defense system, including two launchers, arrived in South Korea, March 6.“The remaining assets will arrive this month,” a military official said on condition of anonymity. “Then, trial operations of the system will take place as early as next month.”If these go smoothly, and the evaluation of its environmental impact is completed as planned, the battery will be put into service before the presidential election scheduled for May 9.Some media reports said the radar has already arrived at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, but the Ministry of National Defense and the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) declined to officially confirm this, citing security concerns.“South Korea and the United States are currently working on the deployment based on the agreement to install the batter

Mar 16, 2017
THAAD battery to be tested in April

Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrives for exercise

The Nimitz-class super carrier USS Carl Vinson docks at a naval port in Busan, Wednesday. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeThe U.S. Navy’s Nimitz-class supercarrier USS Carl Vinson arrived in Busan, Wednesday, in the latest show of force against North Korea.The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will conduct exercises with the ROK Navy in waters around the Korean Peninsula during the annual Foal Eagle exercise, which kicked off March 1 and will run through the end of April.Accompanying the carrier was Carrier Air Wing 2 and the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer.Upon arrival, Rear Adm. James Kilby, commander of the USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group 1, said at a news conference that the port call was aimed at better deterring increasing threats posed by the North.“I understand that the threat has only increased with each senseless act of aggression,” he said. “To be clear, our presence here today is a clear signal of our commitment to defend this nation and region.”In a press release, Kilby also said, “The training opportunities we

Mar 15, 2017
Aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrives for exercise

S. Korea, US Marine Corps leaders call for vigilance against N. Korea WMDs

Marine Corps officials from South Korea and the United States on Wednesday called on troops to stay vigilant against threats of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction.South Korean Marine Corps Commander Lt Gen Lee Sang-hoon and Lt Gen Lawrence D Nicholson, commanding general of the III Marine Expeditionary Force, visited the 6th brigade on Baengnyeong Island near the western maritime border with North Korea, to check military readiness against the North and discuss countermeasures, the Marine Corps said in a statement.They vowed to strongly retaliate against North Korea if provoked.It marked their second on-site inspection following their visit to Yeonpyeong Island in August last year.The North's shelling of Yeonpyeong left four South Koreans dead in November 2010. The shelling followed a torpedo attack in March on a South Korean warship that killed 46 sailors.There is no unusual military movement in the North, with the annual Foal Eagle and Key Resolve exercises underway in the South, according to the defense ministry. Seoul and Washington kicked off their annual joint drills --

Mar 15, 2017

Carl Vinson enters Busan to join annual drills

Nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrives at Korea's southern port of Busan on Wednesday. / YonhapThe USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier arrived at Korea's southern port of Busan on Wednesday to participate in the ongoing joint exercises by Seoul and Washington in the latest show of force against North Korea, the US military said.The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier plans to conduct bilateral exercises with forces from the South Korean Navy in the waters around the Korean Peninsula during the Foal Eagle field training exercise that runs through the end of April, the US Navy said in a press briefing held in the port city."The training opportunities we have in this region are world-class and allow us to build upon our strong alliance with the Republic of Korea," said Rear Adm James Kilby, commander of USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group 1.He also said the port call is aimed at deterring increasing threats on the Korean Peninsula."I also understand that the threat has only increased with each senseless act of aggression (by North Korea). To be clear, our presence here

Mar 15, 2017
Carl Vinson enters Busan to join annual drills

Seoul, Washington, Tokyo begin missile defense drill

By Jun Ji-hye The navies of South Korea, the United States and Japan began a joint missile detection exercise Tuesday in a bid to boost trilateral military cooperation in detecting and tracking North Korean missiles.The ROK Navy said the two-day drill was being held in South Korean and Japanese waters.The trilateral naval drill is separate from the ongoing joint annual Foal Eagle and Key Resolve exercises by Seoul and Washington, the Navy noted.The exercise is designed to train sailors to share information on detecting and tracking enemy missiles, the Navy said, adding that the missile interception part was excluded from this drill.During the simulation exercise, three Aegis-equipped destroyers ― the Sejongdaewang from South Korea, Curtis Wilbur from the U.S. and Kirishima from Japan ― were mobilized.“The Aegis destroyer from each country detects and tracks a mock hostile missile as if fired by the North, and then exchanges relevant information among them,” the Navy said.“The drill is taking place in accordance with an agreement, made at the Seoul and Washingto

Mar 14, 2017

Drills to strike N. Korea taking place

 ROK Air Force’s fighter jets, including F-15Ks, fly in formation over the West Sea during the Soaring Eagle exercise, Monday. The large-scale combat exercise, aimed at striking North Korea’s key nuclear and missile facilities, began last Friday for a one-week run. / YonhapBy Jun Ji-hyeThe Air Force is currently conducting a large-scale combat exercise aimed at striking North Korea’s key nuclear and missile facilities.Soaring Eagle, a week-long drill that began last Friday, involves 50 aircraft including F-15Ks, KF-16s and FA-50s fighter jets as well as 500 troops.This is taking place in conjunction with the joint annual Foal Eagle and Key Resolve exercises by South Korea and the United States, which are aimed at improving the combined forces’ operation and combat capabilities to deter threats from the North.“The Soaring Eagle exercise is designed to practice the Air Force’s readiness against possible provocations from North Korea and counterattack operations,” the Air Force said in a statement, Monday.“By carrying out the exercise

Mar 13, 2017
Drills to strike N. Korea taking place

S. Korea plans to study how to use drones for 'swarming warfare'

The South Korean Army plans to study ways to introduce "swarming warfare" in its tactical operations, which uses scores of drones equipped with high explosive bombs, a military official here said Sunday."We're planning to make a full-fledged research on applying military swarming, which is already in operational use in the United States, China and Russia, to our ground and naval operations," the official said.Military swarming is a battlefield tactic designed to make dispersed combat units intensively attack designated targets all at once.The research is intended to determine the possibility of the military use of AI-based drones and realize the concept of Korean-style swarming warfare by reflecting current science and technology, the official said.If the outcome of the research, due later this year, is positive, the Army will reportedly weaponize drones in the long term.The research will focus first on analyzing the effects of drone swarming on naval operations, including port defense, attacking, search and rescue, and lighting, according to the official.In January, the U.S. Defense

Mar 12, 2017

Allies to hold annual Key Resolve exercise

South Korea and the United States will begin the Key Resolve joint military exercise Monday amid heightening tensions following the North's recent missile test and the killing of its leader's half brother, the defense ministry said.The computer-simulated command post exercise will be held until March 24.During the period the ministry plans to heighten the level of alertness against the North's possible provocations.The allies are also conducting Foal Eagle, a field training exercise involving ground, air and naval forces. It started May 1 and will run through the end of April.North Korea denounced the joint drills as a rehearsal for invasion.The ministry said the nuclear-powered USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier will arrive in the southern port of Busan on Wednesday to take part in the exercises. (Yonhap)

Mar 12, 2017
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