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Korea's 1st unmanned military ground vehicle gets ready for battlefield

CHANGWON, South Gyeongsang Province — As an employee walked across a test track at Hanwha Aerospace’s Changwon Plant 2, a four-wheeled vehicle trailed several meters behind, matching his path without anyone at the controls. The vehicle was the Arion-SMET, Korea’s first multipurpose uncrewed ground vehicle selected for military deployment. “The Arion-SMET can autonomously follow a soldier in front without any intervention from the operator,” said Lee Yun-su, a research engineer at Hanwha Aerospace’s Manned-Unmanned Teaming R&D Center, during the demonstration Monday. The vehicle then picked up speed under remote control. It can travel at up to 60 kilometers per hour, allowing it to leave dangerous areas or deliver supplies, according to the company. A 7.62-millimeter remote-controlled weapon station mounted on top swiveled toward a target on the test ground. Even as the vehicle moved, the weapon remained trained on it. For the final demonstration, another Hanwha employee loaded supplies onto the vehicle and pressed a button on its side. With no driver aboard, the Arion-SMET mov

Sep 17, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Korea's 1st unmanned military ground vehicle gets ready for battlefield

USFK commander reaffirms commitment to 'conditions-based' OPCON transfer

The top commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) reaffirmed Wednesday the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul must be strictly based on their agreed-upon "conditions-based" framework. USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson made the remarks during a defense forum, highlighting that ongoing discussions on the OPCON transition are central to the allies' "future milestones." "The ROK-U.S. alliance remains a cornerstone of peace and stability in Northeast Asia and the Pacific," Brunson said at the Combined Warfighting Forum, hosted by the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea. "As we advance toward our future milestones, ensuring that our OPCON transition remains firmly conditions-based, driven by robust ROK-led capabilities in a secure regional environment, our willingness to innovate, adapt and act outside our comfort zone will be our ultimate shield," he said. The "conditions-based" OPCON transition refers to a plan Seoul has agreed to to regain wartime OPCON from Washington, un

Sep 16, 2026By Yonhap
USFK commander reaffirms commitment to 'conditions-based' OPCON transfer

Defense minister nominee says conditions ripe for OPCON transfer

Defense minister nominee Kang Shin-chul said Wednesday that Korea has made substantial progress in meeting the requirements for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) and that the conditions are now in place to move the process forward, lending support to the Lee Jae Myung administration’s push to complete the transfer within its term. Speaking at his confirmation hearing before the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee, Kang said the OPCON transfer was something “successive administrations have continuously pursued.” “We have made considerable progress in meeting the required conditions and I believe the circumstances are also in place,” he said. The Lee administration has made the OPCON transfer one of its key defense policy goals, seeking to complete the process before Lee leaves office. In written responses submitted to the Assembly ahead of the hearing, Kang cited completing the Full Operational Capability (FOC) assessment of the future Combined Forces Command as a major task related to the transfer. Kang, a former deputy commander of the Korea-U.S.

Sep 16, 2026By Bahk Eun-ji
Defense minister nominee says conditions ripe for OPCON transfer

Army chiefs of Korea, Poland discuss expanding military, defense industry cooperation

Seeking to cement Korea’s growing role as a vital defense supplier to NATO’s eastern flank, Gen. Kim Kyu-ha, chief of staff of the Republic of Korea Army, embarked on a three-day official visit to Poland aimed at deepening military ties and securing the operational future of billions of dollars in arms sales. The visit, which concluded Tuesday, highlights the deepening ties between Warsaw and Seoul following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As European nations scramble to modernize their arsenals, Poland has emerged as Korea’s most ambitious defense partner in Europe, placing multibillion-dollar orders for tanks, howitzers and light fighter jets. Kim’s trip, hosted by the Polish General Command, followed a visit to Korea’s Gyeryongdae military headquarters in March by Lt. Gen. Marek Sokolowski, the general commander of the Polish Armed Forces. After laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Warsaw on Monday, Kim held consecutive high-level meetings with Sokolowski and Gen. Wieslaw Kukula, chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces. The consultations yield

Sep 16, 2026By Jhoo Dong-chan
Army chiefs of Korea, Poland discuss expanding military, defense industry cooperation

Marine Corps, Navy hold large-scale amphibious landing drills on southeast coast

The Navy and Marine Corps are currently undertaking a joint regular amphibious landing exercise on the country's southeast coast, with a focus on incorporating manned and unmanned combat systems to enhance joint capabilities, the armed forces said Wednesday. The division-level landing drills kicked off last Thursday and will run through Saturday, with about 5,700 troops deployed to Pohang, about 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, the Marine Corps and the Navy said in a statement. The drills involve the 14,000-ton Marado amphibious assault ship, Marine helicopters, P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, FA-50 light attack fighters and C-130 transport aircraft, among others. The joint amphibious landing exercise culminates in the "Decisive Action" phase, where landing forces execute coordinated assault operations by sea and air. This complex sequence requires exceptional teamwork and joint interoperability among all participating forces, the armed forces said. Reflecting the changing modern warfare, the joint exercise incorporated uncrewed systems tied to experimental combat concepts, veri

Sep 16, 2026By Yonhap
Marine Corps, Navy hold large-scale amphibious landing drills on southeast coast

Defense chiefs of Korea, Japan agree on defense cooperation based on 'mutual understanding'

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back spoke with his Japanese counterpart on the phone Tuesday and shared an understanding on the need for bilateral defense cooperation grounded in mutual understanding, Seoul's defense ministry said. Ahn held a video call with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi earlier in the day, where he reaffirmed the trust built between the two nations during his tenure, according to the ministry. He also expressed condolences over the recent earthquake in Japan's southern Kumamoto Prefecture in late July. The two sides shared a consensus on the importance of bilateral as well as trilateral cooperation with the United States, for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the region. The talks come as the relations between the defense officials have soured recently after Koizumi visited a controversial war shrine in Tokyo last month, a move that drew criticism from Seoul. The Japanese defense chief did not attend the annual Seoul Defense Dialogue earlier this month, with Japan's vice defense minister attending in his place.

Sep 15, 2026By Yonhap
Defense chiefs of Korea, Japan agree on defense cooperation based on 'mutual understanding'

S. Korea's push for own capabilities not at odds with strengthening alliance with US: DPK leader

South Korea's push to strengthen its independent defense capabilities does not run counter to efforts to deepen its alliance with the United States, the head of Seoul's ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said Tuesday. DPK leader Kim Min-seok made the remarks during his meeting with U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Michelle Steel at the National Assembly. "South Korea and the U.S. have maintained a robust alliance and the alliance should grow even stronger going forward," he said. "The U.S. has been a steadfast neighbor throughout South Korea's history of modernization, industrialization and democratization." "I do not believe South Korea's process of building its own capabilities is at odds with strengthening its alliance with the U.S," Kim added. Addressing the National Assembly in a policy speech last week, Kim stressed the need for Seoul to strengthen its independent security capabilities, saying the days of relying solely on Washington are over. Steel highlighted South Korea's role as a key global player in promoting peace and prosperity in the region and across the world. She expres

Sep 15, 2026By Yonhap
S. Korea's push for own capabilities not at odds with strengthening alliance with US: DPK leader

Marine Corps hosts event marking 76th anniversary of Incheon Landing Operation

The Marine Corps on Tuesday hosted an event commemorating the 76th anniversary of an amphibious landing operation carried out by South Korean and U.S. forces during the 1950-53 Korean War, officials said. The event, co-hosted by the Incheon city government, took place in the namesake city, just west of Seoul, to honor the fallen soldiers who participated in the Incheon Landing Operation. It marked the first time since 2010 that the Marine Corps hosted the event. Previously, such a commemoration was organized by the Navy, but starting this year, the Marine Corps began hosting it, as it seeks to restore the operational control of its two Marine divisions from the Army as part of a military overhaul. The event included a performance replicating the operation, which played a pivotal role in repelling the invading North Korean troops. The operation was launched under the command of U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur in Incheon in September 1950. Tuesday's event was attended by some 1,000 people, including the Marine Corps Commandant Lt. Gen. Ju Il-suk, Incheon Mayor Park Chan-dae and Joseph Hilbert, t

Sep 15, 2026By Yonhap
Marine Corps hosts event marking 76th anniversary of Incheon Landing Operation

Korean Marines participate in US, Indonesia-led multinational drills

The Korean Marines have taken part in annual multinational joint drills led by the United States and Indonesia, aimed at enhancing interoperability, the Marine Corps said Monday. The two-week Super Garuda Shield exercise was held from Aug. 31 to Friday in Lampung and Bandung in Indonesia, involving troops from 15 nations, including Korea, Canada and Japan. It marks the second time that Korean troops have joined the drills after taking part in the exercise for the first time last year. During the drills, the Korean Marines participated in a range of joint exercises, including field training exercises (FTX) involving jungle warfare missions and cyber drills designed to acquaint troops with cyber attack and defense capabilities. Launched in 2007, the Super Garuda Shield exercise began as a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Indonesia to enhance operational capabilities in jungle warfare, but has since evolved into a large-scale multinational exercise.

Sep 14, 2026By Yonhap
Korean Marines participate in US, Indonesia-led multinational drills

Korea, US to hold high-level defense talks amid Hormuz deployment consideration

Korea and the United States plan to hold their senior-level regular defense talks this week, the defense ministry said Monday, amid Seoul weighing military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz. The biannual Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) will be held in the southeastern port city of Busan from Wednesday through Friday, according to the ministry. Kim Hong-cheol, deputy defense minister for policy, and George Lemeur, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of war for East Asia, will lead the talks, along with other key defense and foreign affairs officials. "The meeting is expected to discuss a wide range of pending security issues, including (Seoul's) retaking of wartime operational control (OPCON), joint defense posture and cooperation in shipbuilding," the ministry said. The allies did not specify, but they are widely expected to discuss the possibility of Seoul's military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz amid Washington's pressure on Korea to join efforts to secure the crucial waterway. Korea sent a team tasked with assessing the security situation near the Strait of Hormuz to th

Sep 14, 2026By Yonhap
Korea, US to hold high-level defense talks amid Hormuz deployment consideration
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