my timesThe Korea Times
South Korea

Defense

Korea Times
About Us
Introduction
History
Contact Us
Products & Services
Subscribe
E-paper
RSS Service
Content Sales
Site Map
Policy
Code of Ethics
Ombudsman
Privacy Policy
Youth Protection Policy
Terms of Service
Copyright Policy
Family Site
Hankookilbo
Dongwha Group
FacebookXYoutubeInstagram
CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

Four Wildcat choppers deployed

By Jun Ji-hyeThe Navy deployed four of its latest maritime helicopters on frigates Wednesday to better detect North Korean submarines equipped with ballistic missiles.“We deployed four AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat choppers that we received last year,” a Navy official said on condition of anonymity. “The remaining four will be deployed in July after undergoing training and testing programs for pilots and engineers.”In 2013, the Navy signed a contract to buy eight Wildcats for about 400 billion won ($350 million) as part of its helicopter procurement project. It received an initial delivery of four last June and the remaining four in December.To mark its first deployment, the Navy mobilized two Wildcats in a drill Wednesday in waters off the southern Geoje Island aimed at enhancing its capability to detect and attack enemy submarines.The helicopters carry a low-frequency dipping sonar system that helps detect and track submarines. The choppers are also equipped with the active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar with a range of 360 kilometers and can be ar

Feb 1, 2017

Korea, US military chiefs discuss contingency plans

By Jun Ji-hyeJoint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Lee Sun-jin asked Washington, Wednesday, to strengthen its deterrence against North Korea, including deploying U.S. strategic assets in South Korea.  During a 20-minute phone call with his U.S. counterpart, Gen. Joseph Dunford, Lee stressed the importance of implementing measures agreed to in December during the inaugural meeting of the allies’ Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG) in Washington.At the time, the United States reaffirmed its commitment to regularly deploying strategic weapons, such as nuclear-capable bombers, to South Korea to better deter Pyongyang’s growing nuclear and missile threats.This is the first time that Seoul brought up the issue of the deployment of strategic weapons since the inauguration of President Donald Trump’s administration, Jan. 20.The telephone conversation took place a day after talks between Defense Minister Han Min-koo and U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, during which the latter vowed to offer extended deterrence, which refers to Washington&

Feb 1, 2017

S. Korea, US military chiefs vow strong deterrence to counter N. Korean threats

The military chiefs of South Korea and the United States on Wednesday reaffirmed the two countries' commitment to forming a strong joint defense posture against North Korea's provocations, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said.Gen. Lee Sun-jin, the chairman of the JCS, stressed the need to strengthen deterrence against North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats during his phone talks with his U.S. counterpart Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, the military said."They determined that an acute security situation exists like North Korea's nuclear and missile program," the JCS said. "The talks were also aimed at reaffirming the strong commitment of the two countries to building up a joint defense posture as the new U.S. administration takes control."The military said that Lee stressed the importance of implementing goals set by the first Seoul-Washington joint defense cooperation talks held in December.South Korea and the U.S. held their first meeting of the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG) in Washington last year, a move aimed at pressuring Nort

Feb 1, 2017

US to deploy F-16 fighter jets to S. Korea this month

The United States plans to deploy 12 F-16 fighter planes to South Korea this month, the U.S. Pacific Air Forces Command said Wednesday, Washington's first deployment of military assets since the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump."Approximately 200 airmen and 12 F-16 Fighting Falcons with the 119th Fighter Squadron from Atlantic City Air National Guard Base, New Jersey, are set to deploy in February to Osan Air Base" in South Korea, the command said on its website.The U.S. Pacific Air Forces routinely deploys a unit to the region in a bid to counter North Korea's growing threats and bolster the Seoul-Washington alliance since 2004. The move is part of its "theater security packages", which aims to help "maintain a deterrent against threats to regional security and stability," the command said.The planned action would mark the first deployment of military assets by the U.S. to South Korea since Trump took office last month.New U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis plans to visit South Korea on Thursday and Friday on his first trip since he took office in a bid to underscore the

Feb 1, 2017

THAAD may cause setback in repatriation of remains of Chinese soldiers

By Jun Ji-hyeConcerns are being raised that the planned deployment of a U.S. anti-missile system in Korea could cause a setback in a project to repatriate the remains of Chinese soldiers who were killed in the 1950-53 Korean War.The humanitarian project first began in 2014 after President Park Geun-hye offered to repatriate the remains of the fallen soldiers to their homeland during a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013.For the past three years, working-level officials of the two countries have held meetings in late January or early February, and repatriated the remains in late March. But the two sides have failed to set a schedule for a meeting this year as of Tuesday.“We asked China to hold a working-level meeting in late January or early February as we have done for the past three years. But we have not received a definite answer,” a Ministry of National Defense official said on condition of anonymity.Previous meetings have been held on Jan. 22 of 2014, Feb. 10 of 2015 and Jan. 28 of 2016.Observers say Beijing’s ongoing protest against Seoul’s

Jan 31, 2017

S. Korea's acting president to meet US defense chief

South Korea's Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn will meet U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis this week to discuss joint efforts to counter North Korea's growing military threats and enhance the bilateral alliance, Hwang's office said Tuesday.The meeting will be held at Hwang's office in Seoul at 5 p.m. Thursday. Mattis will begin his two-day visit to South Korea that runs through Friday as part of his first overseas trip since taking office on Jan. 20.During a telephone conversation between Hwang and U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, the two leaders discussed Mattis' upcoming trip to South Korea and noted the trip "reflects the close friendship between our two countries and demonstrates the importance of the U.S.-ROK (Republic of Korea) alliance," the White House said in a statement.Observers said that Hwang and Mattis could touch on a series of pending issues, including the planned deployment of a U.S. missile defense system to the Korean Peninsula, which has faced strong opposition from China, Russia and some local politicians.On Friday, Mattis will fly to Jap

Jan 31, 2017

Korea, US agree to deploy THAAD as scheduled

Defense Minister Han Min-koo, left, and U.S. Defense Secretary James MattisBy Jun Ji-hyeDefense Minister Han Min-koo and U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis agreed Tuesday to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here as planned.In a 30-minute phone conversation, the top defense officials said the deployment of the anti-missile system will go forward despite China’s protests and retaliatory measures, according to the Ministry of National Defense.China strongly opposes the THAAD deployment in the belief that its X-band radar could be used to spy on its missile capabilities despite Seoul and Washington’s assurances that the system is only to defend against the North’s ballistic missiles.The allies have agreed to deploy the advanced U.S. anti-missile defense unit here by July.The phone conservation took place ahead of the U.S. official’s two-day visit to South Korea, beginning Thursday, on his first overseas trip after being appointed to head the Pentagon.He will meet with acting president, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, National Security Of

Jan 31, 2017
Korea, US agree to deploy THAAD as scheduled

Korea, US to hold defense ministerial talks on Feb. 2

By Yi Whan-wooDefense Minister Han Min-koo and the U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis will meet Feb. 2 in Seoul, according to the Ministry of National Defense, Thursday.This will be the first defense ministerial talks between the two allies since Donald Trump inaugurated Jan. 20.The defense ministry said Mattis will visit South Korea on Feb. 2 and 3 in his first overseas trip as a U.S. defense chief. He will be in Japan on Feb. 3 and 4 and meet Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada before returning home.It is unusual for a U.S. defense secretary to visit South Korea first over Japan in their trip to the two East Asian nations, according to the military sources.“Such change in order of itinerary is seen a bid to send a powerful warning to North Korea for making threats with intercontinental ballistic missiles, while ensuring the U.S. commitment to the alliance with South Korea,” a source said.Han and Mattis are expected to announce a joint statement against Pyongyang after their meeting.“The trip will underscore the commitment of the United States to our endurin

Jan 26, 2017

US secretary of defense to visit Korea next week

U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis will visit South Korea next week on his first trip since taking office to underscore the U.S. commitment to the alliance between two countries, the Pentagon said Wednesday.The trip, which is set to begin on Feb. 1 and also includes a stop in Japan, comes as tensions are running high after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the communist nation is close to test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile apparently capable of reaching the U.S.Mattis, expected to arrive in Seoul on Feb. 2, will meet with South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo and other senior officials, the Pentagon said. Their discussions are expected to focus on ways to cope with North Korean threats and further strengthen the alliance.On Feb. 3, Mattis will visit Japan for talks with his counterpart, Tomomi Inada."The trip will underscore the commitment of the United States to our enduring alliances with Japan and the Republic of Korea, and further strengthen U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea security cooperation," the Pentagon said. It is Mattis' first overseas trip sinc

Jan 26, 2017

Allies will discuss N. Korea, THAAD

By Jun Ji-hyeSouth Korea will begin military talks with the Donald Trump administration next month to discuss North Korea’s missile threats and other challenging bilateral issues, according to the Ministry of National Defense, Wednesday.The ministry said the two nations are arranging talks between Defense Minister Han Min-koo and U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis in Seoul early next month, which will be their first defense chiefs’ meeting since Trump’s inauguration last week.“Consultation is currently underway to arrange the talks,” a ministry official said on condition of anonymity. “We are fine-tuning the detailed schedule.”Citing U.S. government officials, Japan’s Kyodo News and NHK also reported that Mattis is planning to visit Japan and South Korea on his first overseas trip after he was named to head the Pentagon.Officials here said it is quite rare for the defense chiefs’ talks to be held before a foreign ministers’ meeting takes place, noting that it reflects the two sides are putting considerable significance on d

Jan 25, 2017
previous page
390391392393394
next page

Most Read in South Korea