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Defense

S. Korea condemns Pyongyang for resuming nuclear fuel reprocessing

South Korea expressed deep concern on Monday over North Korea's resumption of nuclear fuel reprocessing, saying that it is a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and that it will never tolerate Pyongyang owning nuclear weapons.Last week, Pyongyang's Atomic Energy Institute said in an interview with Japan's Kyodo News that it has "reprocessed spent nuclear fuel rods removed from a graphite-moderated reactor," referring to the 5-megawatt reactor at the North's Yongbyon nuclear complex.The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the nuclear watchdog, made public a director general report later that confirmed that there were "multiple indications" of the North engaging in nuclear fuel reprocessing."The reprocessing that the North acknowledged through a foreign media report last week is a clear violation of Security Council resolutions and it poses serious threat to the international peace, stability and the nonproliferation regime. We express our deep concern and strongly condemn it," the foreign ministry said in a comment issued in the name of its spokesman."We strong

Aug 22, 2016

S. Korea, US kick off two-week joint military drill

South Korea and the United States kicked off their annual joint exercise Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) on Monday to maintain their combined forces' readiness against North Korea's potential aggression amid Pyongyang's threats to launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike.The allies' Combined Forces Command (CFC) said the drill will run to Sept. 2, and involve about 75,000 troops, including 25,000 from the U.S. side.As the countries opened the command and control exercise earlier in the day, they told North Korea of the drill's schedule and its non-offensive nature through a communication channel in the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjeom, according to the CFC.For this year's exercise, nine member countries of the United Nations Command based in South Korea will join the computerized military exercise, including Australia, Canada, France and Britain.The Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, the armistice watchdog, will also participate in the drill as an observer in charge of looking into whether it is in compliance with the armistice agreement between the two Koreas, according to the

Aug 22, 2016

S. Korea to evaluate alternative site for THAAD deployment

South Korea's defense ministry said Monday it will assess the suitability of an alternative site to deploy an advanced U.S. missile defense system as soon as possible.The announcement came as residents living near a state-chosen site for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) deployment formally requested the government review an alternative site within their county of Seongju.In July, Seoul and Washington agreed to place a THAAD battery in Seongju by the end of next year in a bid to counter North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats. But the decision has invited fierce opposition from local residents. (Yonhap)

Aug 22, 2016

동해 훈련 참가 中군용기 3대 한국 방공식별구역 침범

18일 훈련중 일시 침범…韓공군, 전투기 편대 출격 등 대응최근 동해상에서 실시된 중국 인민해방군의 대규모 실전 대항훈련때 중국 공군 전략폭격기를 포함한 항공기 3대가 우리 방공식별구역(KADIZ)을 침범했던 것으로 알려졌다.    군 관계자는 "지난 18일 오전 중국군의 실전 대항훈련에 참가한 군용기 3대가 이어도 서쪽 상공 KADIZ를 일시적으로 침범했다"고 22일 밝혔다.    우리 군은 이들 중국 군용기 3대에 대해 경고통신을 보낸 다음, F-15K를 비롯한 주력 전투기 편대를 출격시켰고 중국 군용기들은 곧 KADIZ를 빠져나간 것으로 알려졌다.    중국 군용기들이 침범한 KADIZ 구역은 중국이 선포한 방공식별구역(CADIZ)과 겹치는 구역이다. 중국 군용기들은 올해 1월 31일에도 KADIZ와 CADIZ의 중첩 구역을 지나간 바 있다. 당시에는 우리 군 전투기들이 출격하지는 않았다.    지난 18일 동해 국제수역에서는 중국 동해함대 소속 미사일 호위함 징저우(荊州)함이 이끄는 편대와 하와이에서 열린 '2016 환태평양훈련'(림팩)을 마치고 복귀하던 시안(西安)함 편대가 홍군과 청군으로 나눠 실전 대항훈련을 했다.    훈련에는 중국 공군 훙(轟)-6 전략폭격기를 포함한 항공기 3대도 투입됐는데 이들은 KADIZ를 침범한 다음, 대한해협 상공을 지나 독도 북쪽 상공까지 비행한 것으로 알려졌다.    중국 인민해방군의 이번 훈련은 사드(THAAD·고고도미사일방어체계)의 한반도 배치와 중일간 센카쿠(尖閣·중국명 댜오위다오) 영유권 갈등을 동시에 겨냥한 무력시위라는 해석이 나왔다. (연합뉴스)

Aug 22, 2016

Park warns of 'serious cracks' in N. Korea regime

President Park Geun-hye on Monday warned of possible North Korean provocations, saying the likelihood of unrest in Pyongyang could rise amid signs of "serious cracks" in the communist regime.During a National Security Council (NSC) session, the commander-in-chief pointed out that the recent defection of North Korean elites, including a top-level diplomat, is an indication of cracks in the North's dictatorial governing structure."As the North Korean regime has been repressing its people with its continued reign of terror while ignoring the livelihoods of its citizens, even the loyalty of North Korea's elites has begun to crumble," Park said during the session which was held as the annual South Korea-U.S. military drills kicked off its two-week run."As signs of serious cracks emerge, the likelihood of unrest in the regime is increasing," she added.Thae Yong-ho, North Korea's deputy ambassador to Britain, recently defected to South Korea with his family -- a case that observers here say highlights that the loyalty of the North's elites towards its leader Kim Jong-un has been eroding.Tha

Aug 22, 2016
Park warns of 'serious cracks' in N. Korea regime

Chinese military aircraft enter S. Korea's air defense area

Three Chinese military planes "briefly" flew into an overlapping air defense intensification zone of South Korea and China amid tensions between the two countries over Seoul's decision to place a missile defense system on its soil, a military source in Seoul said Monday.The Chinese planes, including a bomber engaging in its own military operations, flew into the airspace near South Korea's southern island of Jeju on Thursday, without prior notification, but left shortly after the South Korean military issued a warning message and sent fighter jets to escort the intruders out of the area.The area that the Chinese planes flew over was the western side of Ieodo, a submerged rock located around 150 kilometers southwest of Jeju. It is an area where the air defense identification zones of South Korea and China overlap.In 2013, China unilaterally expanded its own air defense identification zone to cover a reef and other islands off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula. South Korea announced an expansion of its own Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) to counter the Chinese m

Aug 22, 2016

Seongju chief asks defense ministry to pick alternate site for THAAD

The administrative chief of Seongju on Monday formally asked the defense ministry to designate an alternate site within the county for the deployment of the advanced U.S. antimissile system, instead of the original location picked by Seoul last month.During a press conference, Kim Hang-gon cited recent poll results that found a "vast majority" of Seongju residents wanted the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to be stationed in a new site rather than occupy the anti-aircraft missile base operated by South Korea's military. Seoul and Washington on July 13 said the site of the existing Seongsan battery is ideal for countering growing missile and nuclear threats from North Korea."I hope that the defense ministry picks a proper alternate site (for THAAD) that excludes the Seongsan (anti-aircraft) base," he said, noting that he felt that opposing the THAAD deployment without suggesting an alternative would not lead to a fundamental resolution of the issue."Security is the cornerstone that props up the nation, and citizens cannot exist without a nation," he added.An area ne

Aug 22, 2016

을지연습 22∼25일 실시…"실전처럼 한다"

국민안전처는 국가비상사태에 대비하는 정부 차원의 훈련인 을지연습이 22∼25일 전국적으로 진행된다고 21일 밝혔다.    49회째인 올해 을지연습에서는 최근 북한의 장거리미사일 발사와 사이버테러, GPS(인공위성위치정보) 전파 교란 등에 대응하는 실제훈련을 확대·강화하기로 했다.    공무원의 전시임무 수행 능력을 키우고자 전시직제편성 훈련과 국지도발에 대비한 읍면동 지역 통합방위지원본부 운영, 장사정포 포격 대비 접경지역 주민대피 훈련 등 실제상황을 가정한 연습을 실전처럼 한다.    전시 동원자원으로 지정된 기술인력과 차량·건설기계 동원훈련, 원자력발전소·공항·항만 등 국가중요시설 방호와 테러 대비 훈련 등도 실제훈련으로 시행한다.    GPS 전파 교란 대비는 기존의 도상훈련에서 민간 어선과 항공기 등이 처음으로 참여하는 실제훈련으로 진행된다.  외부 전문가로 평가단을 구성해 연습 평가를 강화하고 미흡한 기관에는 재훈련을 하도록 할 방침이다.    을지연습에는 시·군·구 이상 행정기관과 공공기관, 단체, 중점관리 지정업체 등 4천여 기관 48만여 명이 참여한다. (연합뉴스)

Aug 21, 2016

S. Korean Navy to arm frigates with tactical ship-to-land missiles

South Korea's Navy will arm its latest frigates with tactical missiles that can strike deep into North Korea, a military source said Sunday.The plan calls for arming the Incheon-class ships with land-attack missiles that have a range of 150-200 kilometers. The missiles, to be loaded onto the ships starting in September, will allow the frigates the ability to attack key targets in the communist country's interior from the sea."Initially, the plan was to arm batch 2 Incheon-class ships with the tactical missiles, but the government, after conducting feasibility studies, decided to retrofit the batch 1 ships," the official, who declined to be identified, said. The missiles will be housed in angled canister launchers on deck.The first batch consisting of six frigates have an empty displacement of some 2,300 tons and were launched starting in 2011. The sixth and last frigate of batch 1 is undergoing sea trials and will join the fleet early next year. The second batch of ships will be heavier with an empty displacement of 2,800 tons.The frigates that are replacing the aging Ulsan-class fri

Aug 21, 2016

S. Korea to kick off Ulchi exercise this week

South Korea will kick off its annual Ulchi exercise this week to better prepare for national emergency situations, the Ministry of Public Safety and Security said Sunday.The drill that runs from Monday through Thursday is the 49th of its kind and comes amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea's fourth nuclear test and long-range missile launch earlier this year.The ministry said this year, emphasis will be placed on dealing with North Korea's frequent global positioning system jamming attacks along with cyberterrorism."Compared to the past, greater focus will be placed on actual drills to cope with threats and emergencies," it said.It moreover said authorities will check the mobilization of key technical personnel and construction related assets and protection of critical facilities like nuclear power plants, airports and harbors.It said some 4,000 state-agencies and 480,000 people will take part in the drill this year.Earlier the education ministry said 212 education offices and agencies will take part in this year's Ulchi exercise.The ministry said for

Aug 21, 2016
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