South Korea - The Korea Times

Four Wildcat helicopters delivered to S. Korean Navy

South Korea's Navy said Wednesday it has received an initial delivery of four Wildcat helicopters it purchased as part of its ongoing efforts to beef up its fighting capability.In 2013, the Navy signed a contract to buy eight AgustaWestland Wildcat marine helicopters for about 400 billion won ($350 million), he said.The helicopters, which carry a low-frequency dipping sonar system that helps it detect and track submarines, will be mounted on frigates or naval destroyers to be used in search and rescue operations, according to the Ministry of National Defense.AgustaWestland is a Britain-Italy joint venture company specialized in helicopter design and manufacturing."Another four Wildcat helicopters are scheduled to arrive by the end of this year after undergoing a series of tests at home and overseas," a Navy spokesman said.In addition to the eight Wildcats, the Navy plans to spend another 900 billion won to buy 12 more helicopters. But it has not yet decided on the time frame for the purchase and the manufacturer, the spokesman said. (Yonhap)

Jul 27, 2016

S. Korea, US hold talks on expanding defense technology cooperation

South Korea and the United States will take steps to expand cooperation in defense technology exchanges and the conventional arms trade, the defense ministry said Wednesday.In the first ever Defense Technology Strategy & Cooperation Group (DTSCG) meeting, Vice Defense Minister Hwang In-moo met his U.S. counterpart David Shear, principal deputy under secretary of defense for policy, to discuss ways to promote defense technology cooperation between the two countries, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said in a statement.The meeting took place in Washington D.C. on Tuesday (local time)."South Korea explained its defense technology protection policy and the need for bilateral defense technology cooperation to the U.S., while Washington outlined its trade policy for conventional weapons and basic rules and principles it follows in the defense trade," the statement said.The two countries "tentatively" agreed to hold the second DTSCG meeting in 2017, but the venue for the meeting has yet to be decided, a ministry official said.On the sidelines of the defense talks, Hwang met Deputy

Jul 27, 2016

Gov't says it will test THAAD radar waves again to allay health concerns

South Korea will again check the electromagnetic waves coming from the powerful radar used in the advanced U.S. anti-missile system to help allay fears about the health risks associated with the equipment, the defense ministry said Tuesday.The move comes after the Ministry of National Defense carried out a test on electromagnetic waves generated from the X-band radar system used on the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system stationed in Guam on July 18.In the test carried out at the U.S. military base, the radar waves being detected posed no health risks to residents living near the military facility.Despite such reassurances, the 45,000 residents of Seongju, 296 kilometers southeast of Seoul and the county selected for South Korea's first THAAD battery, rejected the results, raising the possibility of poor measurement or fabrication of data."In the upcoming evaluation on the THADD battery's environmental impact, we will conduct the same test again to ensure that the anti-missile system does not pose any major health risks to Seongju residents in a reasonable and subjecti

Jul 26, 2016

Saenuri officials visit Seongju to help resolve THAAD dispute

Ruling Saenuri Party officials visited the southeastern town of Seongju on Tuesday, in a bid to find solutions to the on-going protests by residents who have opposed the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system there."Saenuri aims to facilitate dialogue between the government and the residents to persuade the residents of Seongju," said Chung Jin-suk, the party's floor leader.During his visit, Chung said the residents, the U.S. Army and the party should establish a committee to discuss the issue, adding that the case cannot be settled by staging protests.Residents have been expressing discontent with the move, questioning the transparency of the decision-making process, as well as the potential risks to their health. They have also staged rallies in both Seongju and Seoul, urging the government to withdraw the plan."Even taking the importance of national security into consideration, the party would not push for the THAAD system if such a move would impact the health of residents and the regional economy," the lawmaker stressed.Chung, however, said the system is guarantee

Jul 26, 2016

S. Korean vice defense minister arrives in Washington for defense technology talks

South Korean Vice Defense Minister Hwang In-moon arrived in Washington on Monday for talks with U.S. officials about increasing defense technology cooperation between the two countries, an official said.The talks, set for Tuesday, represent the inaugural meeting of the Defense Technology Strategy and Cooperation Group that the defense ministers of the two countries agreed to establish at their annual meeting in November in an effort to bolster defense technology cooperation.Tuesday's meeting will involve officials from the Defense Ministry, the Foreign Ministry as well as the U.S. Defense Department and the State Department.Upon arrival in Washington, Hwang also held talks with Under Secretary of State Tom Shannon. Details of their talks were not immediately available.Defense technology cooperation between South Korea and the U.S. was a hot topic last year after the U.S. government refused to approve the transfer of four key technologies for Seoul's indigenous fighter jet development project.Under the 18 trillion-won ($15.7 billion) program, South Korea plans to produce 120 indigenou

Jul 26, 2016

Obama says US commitment to S. Korea 'will never waver'

US politicians uphold THAAD

By Jun Ji-hyeU.S. politicians are going all out to ensure that a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system scheduled to be deployed on Korean soil next year will pose no health risks or environmental problems.Their emphasis on the safety of the system comes as a part of efforts to dispel concerns widespread in South Korea in the wake of a joint decision by the two countries to place a THAAD battery in Seongju County in North Gyeongsang Provice.Local residents and their supporters are strongly protesting, claiming that the electromagnetic waves emitted from the AN/TPY-2 radar could be dangerous to humans and agricultural products.Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) said Wednesday that he would like a THAAD missile defense battery “in his backyard” as the system provides excellent protection for his children from oncoming nuclear missiles while posing no danger to humans and the environment.He made the remark in a meeting with South Korean reporters in Cleveland.“I would want THAAD outside in our backyard if we could get the military to put one there, because I bel

Jul 24, 2016

White House: US to ensure THAAD maximizes protection

The United States will work closely with South Korea to deploy the THAAD missile defense system in a way that maximizes the protection it provides and minimizes any inconvenience it causes, the White House said Thursday."This is a highly sophisticated anti-ballistic missile defense system in South Korea to protect our allies from the missile threat emanating North Korea," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said at a regular press briefing."So we are certainly going to work closely with the South Korean government to ensure that those protections are put in place in a way that's consistent with the interests and preferences of the South Korean people," he said.Earlier this month, South Korea and the United States announced they have officially decided to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in the Asian nation to cope with the ever-growing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea.But the decision sparked angry protests from residents of the South Korean town of Seongju, set to host the battery, amid concern that the electromagnetic radiation from the

Jul 22, 2016

Trump says, 'Congratulations, you will be defending yourself'

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he would be "absolutely" prepared to tell U.S. allies, "Congratulations, you will be defending yourself," unless they agree to shoulder more of the cost for American troop presence.Trump made the remark in an interview with the New York Times held a day after he officially clinched the Republican presidential nomination, once again signalling he's ready to abandon U.S. security commitments overseas unless they make economic sense."I would prefer that we be able to continue (protecting other countries), but if we are not going to be reasonably reimbursed for the tremendous cost of protecting these massive nations with tremendous wealth ... I would be absolutely prepared to tell those countries, 'Congratulations, you will be defending yourself,'" Trump said, according to the interview transcript.Making allies pay up for an American troop presence has been one of the top foreign policy priorities for Trump. The real-estate businessman hasn't backed down, arguing that it makes no sense for the U.S. to help defend such wealthy allies as Ja

Jul 22, 2016

영상 F-22 전투기의 아찔한 수직 이륙

미군 F-22 랩터 전투기의 수직 이륙 영상이 네티즌들 사이에서 화제가 되고 있다.동영상 공유 사이트 유튜브에 게재된 이 영상은 록히드 마틴사와 보잉사가 제작한 F-22 랩터 군용기의 비행 장면이 담겨있다.미군 공군의 고기동 스텔스 전투기인 F-22 랩터는 현존하는 세계 최강의 전투기로 꼽히고 있다.최대 속도 마하 2.5(시속 3,060km), 최대 상승고도 15㎞, 항속거리 3219㎞, 작전행동반경 2177㎞인 이 군용기는 한 대당 3억6000만 달러(약 4370억 원)의 가치를 하는 것으로 알려져 있다.디지털뉴스부@

Jul 21, 2016

Lack of communication brews groundless rumors on THAAD

By Yi Whan-woo Groundless rumors, wild speculation and misunderstanding on national security and public safety are sweeping the nation again after the government failed to convince people concerned about the decision to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery in South Korea.The latest fear over possible trade retaliation from China and Russia and also radiation hazards associated with THAAD follows a series of myths on mad cow disease, construction of a naval base on Jeju Island, the Sewol ferry sinking and the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).Remarking that the incidents all took place under the conservative governments of Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak, analysts said Thursday that the Park government is to be blamed for failing to learn from past mistakes.The two conservative governments were repeatedly accused of making decisions on sensitive issues behind closed doors without consulting related parties. They were also criticized for bungled responses toward the incidents.“I’d say all those myths stem from public distrust t

Jul 21, 2016

Residents hold anti-THAAD rally in Seoul

Defense

Defense

Four Wildcat helicopters delivered to S. Korean Navy

S. Korea, US hold talks on expanding defense technology cooperation

Gov't says it will test THAAD radar waves again to allay health concerns

Saenuri officials visit Seongju to help resolve THAAD dispute

S. Korean vice defense minister arrives in Washington for defense technology talks

US politicians uphold THAAD

White House: US to ensure THAAD maximizes protection

Trump says, 'Congratulations, you will be defending yourself'

영상 F-22 전투기의 아찔한 수직 이륙

Lack of communication brews groundless rumors on THAAD

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