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Defense

Taurus missiles to start operation with S. Korean Air Force this year

South Korea plans to deploy dozens of "jamming proof" air-to-ground guided missiles that can be carried on its F-15K fighters in a bid to bolster its strike capabilities amid mounting military threats from North Korea, military officials said Tuesday. Dozens of Taurus missiles will be brought in from Germany by the end of this year as the U.S. government has recently approved the exports of critical military GPS receivers which can be attached to war planes, according to the military. The receivers are vital because they are not affected by North Korean GPS jamming.The military said the F-15K Slam Eagle is designed to penetrate the North's air defense systems and precisely destroy major military facilities. If armed with the Taurus missile, the plane can hit North Korea's capital city of Pyongyang while flying over Daejeon, 164 kilometers south of Seoul. It also said the jets could fire off a Taurus over the East Sea and hit the North missile launching facility in Hwadae, in the northern part of North Korea."Taurus missiles combined with GPS receivers and the flight termination

Aug 9, 2016
Taurus missiles to start operation with S. Korean Air Force this year

Defense minister mourns passing of former USFK commander

South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo formally marked the passing of former U.S. Forces Korea commander William Livsey, known for starting and concluding his military career in South Korea.Livsey died on June 18 at age 85. The late general served his first combat tour in 1953 during the Korean War and concluded his 35-year military career as USFK commander in 1987. He also served during the Vietnam War."The bond between the Korean people and General Livsey was a special one, as he was a man whose military career began and ended in the Republic of Korea," Han said in a condolence letter read by Maj. Gen. Shin Kyung-soo, defense attache at the South Korean Embassy, at a memorial service in Fayetteville, Georgia, on Saturday.The brief service was held, instead of a formal funeral, in accordance with Livsey's wish that no troops should be mobilized for his funeral when they are supposed to conduct training exercises. During the service, Livsey's remains were scattered at General Livsey Memorial Field established at his alma mater, the University of North Georgia.Those in attendance i

Aug 8, 2016

Korea, Japan moving to expand military ties

By Yi Whan-wooA team of South Korean sailors will visit Japan next month as part of its annual training on marine navigation, the defense ministry said Sunday, showing the latest sign that the two sides are moving to expand bilateral military exchanges.It said the Cruise Training Task Group, consisting of the 4,400-ton destroyer Yi Sun-shin and the 4,200-ton logistic support ship Chunji, will visit Tokyo Sept. 8 to 11 with around 600 sailors aboard in their tour of 12 countries. The group will also travel to the United States, Russia, Australia and Singapore before returning home in December.This is the first time since 2011 that the training group will visit Japan, fueling speculation that Seoul and Tokyo are trying to bolster military ties amid Pyongyang’s growing military threats.“The annual training comes as part of efforts to bolster South Korea’s alliance with friendly nations, and the visit to Tokyo will contribute to military ties between the two neighbors,” said Yang Uk, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum.“The South

Aug 7, 2016

Presidential office says gov't can consider new THAAD site although it 'may not be easy'

South Korea's government will consider an alternative location in the southern county of Seongju for the deployment of an advanced U.S. antimissile system upon request, although it "may not be easy" to find a new site, the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said Friday.The statement came a day after President Park Geun-hye raised the possibility of her government mulling stationing a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system in a new location in Seongju rather than the already designated spot, amid strong opposition by residents in the county."Although it may not be easy to change the already designated site, (the government) will conduct a thorough study to see if there is another site (capable of hosting THAAD) should there be a request (for such a study)," presidential spokesman Jung Youn-kuk told reporters.Since Seoul and Washington designated a South Korean artillery unit in Seongju as the site for the deployment of THAAD last month, residents there have strenuously opposed the decision.The residents fear that THAAD's powerful radar system could pose health risks and hur

Aug 5, 2016

S. Korean, US navies agree to bolster cooperation in anti-submarine warfare

The navies of South Korea and the United States agreed Thursday to bolster cooperation and information sharing, especially in anti-submarine warfare, in order to address threats across the region, the U.S. Navy said Thursday.Adm. Jung Ho-sub, South Korea's chief of naval operations, reached the agreement when he held talks with his U.S. counterpart, Adm. John Richardson, at the Pentagon, the Navy said in a release."It's extremely important as we work together ― as our two navies work together ― that you and I have a personal relationship, that we can call one another up as brothers to work for better ways to collaborate," Richardson said.He also praised his counterpart for the progress he has made in improving naval capabilities, as well as the focus he placed on advancing ethics and honor throughout the South Korean navy, the statement said."I agree with the importance of our alliance, particularly navy-to-navy, to deal with the threat from the North, as well as the instability that may take place in the South China Sea," Jung said.The two agreed that "enhanced cooperation and infor

Aug 5, 2016

Gov't can consider new site in Seongju for THAAD deployment

President Park Geun-hye on Thursday said her government can consider deploying an advanced U.S. antimissile system to a new location within the southern county of Seongju rather than an already designated spot, amid strong opposition by residents.Park made the remarks during a meeting with 11 lawmakers from Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, including Rep. Yi Wan-young, who represents Seongju.The meeting was arranged as part of her efforts to address continued opposition by some politicians and citizens to the plan to station a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in Seongju by end-2017."In consideration of the concerns among Seongju residents, (the government) will thoroughly review (the possibility of deploying THAAD to) a new location within Seongju, if there are other locations the military can recommend," the commander-in-chief was quoted by some lawmakers, who participated in the meeting, as saying.Since Seoul and Washington designated a South Korean artillery unit in Seongju as the site for the deployment of THAAD last month, residents there have vehemently op

Aug 4, 2016

Army holds event marking anniversary of land-mine attack

South Korea's Army on Thursday held an event to mark the first anniversary of North Korea's land-mine attack that maimed two South Korean soldiers and escalated tensions on the Korean peninsula.In the event held at the DMZ Ecosystem Tourism Support Center in Paju, just north of Seoul, Army Chief of Staff Jang Jun-kyu and military officials encouraged and expressed thanks to the eight soldiers who were involved in reconnaissance duty on Aug. 4 last year and their families, the Army said in a statement."We expect provocations by the North will continue down the road. We will keep our soldiers fully prepared so they can firmly and immediately counter any North Korean provocation," Jang said during the event.The two soldiers injured in the land-mine blasts also attended the event along with their six other former team members. The two have been serving in the telecommunications and medical departments under the Ministry of National Defense after undergoing treatment.In the land-mine explosion that took place in the demilitarized zone, one soldier lost both legs and the other lost one. Th

Aug 4, 2016

US deploys dozen F-16 jets to S. Korea amid N. Korea tensions

A dozen U.S. F-16 fighter jets and hundreds of airmen have arrived in South Korea to help beef up defense of the Asian ally, the U.S. Pacific Air Forces said, as North Korea keeps ratcheting up tensions with a series of missile launches.The South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing arrived at South Korea's Osan Air Base with more than "300 Airmen and 12 F-16 Fighting Falcons, ready to demonstrate the commitment to always be ready to 'fight tonight,'" PACAF said in a statement Tuesday.The Air Force routinely makes such deployments in support of South Korea's defense, it said."Enhancing U.S. and Korean interoperability assures shared international responsibilities to provide assistance during regional crises and allows us to build cooperation and bolster regional security interests and goals," Lt. Col. Nicholas Johnson, Pacific Air Forces chief of fighter operations, said in a statement."This deployment underscores U.S. commitment to the Indo-Asia-Pacific rebalance in an unpredictable and uncertain region and sends a clear message to the international community that the U.

Aug 4, 2016

'사기 충만' 해병대 실사격 훈련 전 과정 최초 공개

해병대가 제공한 이 영상에는 7월 28일, 서북도서방위사령부(이하 서방사)가 백령도, 연평부대가 보유한 현장 전력을 중심으로 실사격 훈련 모습이 담겼다.이번 훈련에 투입된 전력은 K-9 자주포와 스파이크, 공격헬기이며, 총 1,500여발을 사격하였다.영상에는 스파이크 미사일 장전에서 발사, 목표물 명중까지 실사격 훈련의 전 과정이 공개되었으며, 이는 적의 화력도발과 기습강점을 비롯한 다양한 해상상황을 상정하여 실전적인 대응절차를 숙달하는데 중점을 두었다고 전해졌다.서방사는 천안함 피격사건과 연평도 포격적 이후 적의 도발에 대비하기 위해 사례별 훈련 (Case-Study식 훈련)울 지속적으로 실시해 왔다고 밝혔다.또한, 대대장 김철하 중령은 “해병대는 지금 당장 이라도 적과 싸울 준비가 돼있다”라며 “적이 도발한다면 준비한 모든 것을 쏟아부어 응징할 것”이라고 전했다.디지털뉴스부@

Aug 3, 2016
'사기 충만' 해병대 실사격 훈련 전 과정 최초 공개

U.S. Air Force clears F-35 for combat takeoff

F-35A "Lighting II" / Courtesy of Twitter By Lee Han-sooThe U.S. Air Force has declared the controversial F-35A “Lightning II” stealth fighter ready for combat.It said the jet has met initial operational capabilities (IOC), the minimum requirement in combat, search and logistics for any weapon before being deployed.“The F-35A will take us to places where our previous fighters could not,” Herbert Carlisle, commander of U.S. air combat command, said. “This will give our generals the required abilities that are needed in modern warfare.”The F-35A will make up 75 percent of the F-35 fighter variations planned for the U.S. military. Other variations include the F-35B for the Marines and the F-35C for the navy. The U.S. plans to invest $391 billion into the project.The clearing of the IOC will expedite production of the F-35A and its combat deployment.The F-35A has an operational range of 2,222 kilometers, can reach mach 1.6 (1,958 kilometers per hour), has a 25-millimeter automatic cannon and an additional 8.16 ton weapons payload.South Korea plans

Aug 3, 2016
U.S. Air Force clears F-35 for combat takeoff
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