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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.

US troops in Korea focusing on deterring North Korean threats: new commander

American troops stationed in South Korea are fully committed to deterring aggression and provocations from North Korea, the new commander of the United States' Eighth Army here said Tuesday, vowing efforts to toughen joint combat readiness between the allies."From its establishment, Eighth Army's mission has been to protect and defend freedom and democracy," Lt. Gen. Thomas Vandal said as he assumed his position as the commander of the Eighth Army, the backbone of U.S. Forces Korea."We will be standing side by side with our Republic of Korea counterparts until our mission is complete," he said.Vandal replaced the outgoing commander of the Eighth Army, Lt. Gen. Bernard Champoux, in a change of command ceremony earlier in the day held at the USFK base in Yongsan, central Seoul, which was attended by USFK Commander Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Mark Lippert and other key former and incumbent military officials from both countries.With his new role, Vandal also assumed the position as the chief of staff for United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command and USFK.A gr

Feb 2, 2016

Russia alarmed by S. Korea-U.S. contacts over THAAD: ambassador

Russia is opposed to the deployment of an advanced U.S. missile defense system in South Korea because it could destabilize the region's security landscape, Moscow's top envoy to Seoul said Tuesday.The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, has been a source of renewed controversy in Northeast Asia as South Korea is seen as moving to introduce it in response to North Korea's recent nuclear test. Russia and China have expressed strong opposition to the idea, anxious about an even greater U.S. military presence in the region."This issue is drawing a lot of attention in Russia," Ambassador Alexander Timonin said during a meeting with reporters at the embassy. "We are paying close attention to the increased contacts over the issue between relevant organizations of the U.S. and the Republic of Korea."Washington is seeking to deploy a THAAD battery to South Korea, saying it is necessary to better shield its 27,000 troops in the country from North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations. Both Seoul and Washington, however, have repeatedly denied that formal talks are under wa

Feb 2, 2016

Two Chinese military jets intruded into S. Korea's air defense zone: JCS

Two Chinese military planes recently entered the overlapping air defense identification zone of South Korea and China, prompting South Korea to ready a sortie of fighter jets, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Tuesday.The Chinese jets entered the zone near Jeju Island on Sunday and flew out of it after South Korea sent a warning message, according to JCS spokesman Jeon Ha-kyu."We took necessary surveillance and tactical measures adequately," he said.The ministry put fighter jets on standby in case the Chinese planes intruded into South Korean territory, he added.The incident occurred amid a burgeoning stand-off between the Northeast Asian neighbors over the possibility that Seoul will introduce the advanced U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system.The Pentagon wants to deploy the THAAD unit on the peninsula, citing North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats.But China is fiercely opposed to the plan, saying it is apparently aimed at curbing China's military influence.In 2013, South Korea expanded its own air defense identification zone, called KADIZ, to cover Ieodo, a

Feb 2, 2016

Korea says THAAD 'helpful' to security

Beijing cautions against Seoul's moveBy Yi Whan-wooThe government said Friday that the terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) system will help boost Korea’s national security and defense if it is deployed here by the United States.Seoul and Washington are likely to start negotiations soon over whether to deploy the advanced missile defense system to better counter North Korea’s threats.“We’re reviewing the technical elements of THAAD, including its tactical efficiency, on a working-level,” defense ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told reporters. “We’ve been considering all possible means to defend the country against Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile threats.”China expressed concerns about Korea’s move.“We hope that a related nation (South Korea) will deal with the case prudently,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. “A nation should take security of other countries into account when considering its own security.”Kim’s comment came after President Park Geun-hye and Defe

Jan 29, 2016
Korea says THAAD 'helpful' to security

Allies strengthen monitoring of missile launch site

By Yi Whan-wooSouth Korea, the United States and Japan are using all possible tactical reconnaissance assets, such as an Aegis destroyer and ground-based Green Pine radar, to monitor North Korea's possible launch of a ballistic missile, military officials said Friday.“The Navy has deployed an Aegis destroyer in the West Sea while the Green Pine radar is fully operational,” an official said on condition of anonymity. “The airborne Peace Eye early warning and control aircraft is also keeping a close watch on North Korea.”The move comes after increased activities at North Korea's main long-range rocket launch site in Tongchang-ri, which indicates that the secretive state may be preparing for a rocket launch.South Korea and other U.S.-led allies suspect North Korea's rocket program is merely a cover for a ballistic missile test.The authorities did not specify which of South Korea's three radar-equipped Aegis ships ― Sejong the Great, Yulgok Yi I and Seoae Ryu Seong-ryong ― has been dispatched.Commissioned in 2008, Sejong the Great, the lead ship of the t

Jan 29, 2016

S. Korea to join U.S.-led regional military drill in Thailand

South Korean combat forces will join a United States-led multinational military exercise to be held next month in Thailand, the Navy said Friday.Some 440 Navy and Marine soldiers will depart for Thailand on Saturday to join the Cobra Gold exercise, which will run from Feb. 6 through 19. It is an annual peacekeeping operation exercise, led by the U.S. Pacific Command and the Thailand military.In this year's gathering, some 7,900 forces will take part from Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia beside the three countries, along with five warships, 24 armored vehicles and 35 airplanes. China, Britain, Australia and 13 other countries will join as observers. In 2002, South Korea joined the exercise, which was launched in 1982, as an observer before becoming a full-time member in 2010. For this year's exercise, South Korea will send the 4,900-ton Cheon Wang Bong amphibious landing ship and eight combat tanks.After arriving at the Sattahip port, the South Korean team will carry out drills in the fields of command post exercise, humanitarian civil assistance and field training exercise, a

Jan 29, 2016

South Korea, U.S. team up for joint Air Force exercise

Fighter pilots from South Korea and the United States have been conducting a four-day joint air drill aimed at better countering North Korea's provocations, South Korean Air Force said Thursday.The "Buddy Wing 16-1" training exercises, which kicked off on Tuesday, will run through Friday at an air base in Seosan, about 280 kilometers south of Seoul, according to South Korean Air Force.The joint air drill involves four F-16CM fighter planes from the 51st Fighter Wing of the U.S. Air Force and 14 South Korean KF-16 fighter aircraft from the 20th Fighter Wing, it added."The Buddy Wing program plays an important role in maintaining interoperability between our two air forces, which in turn helps maintain our alliance and ultimately the long-term stability on the Korean Peninsula," Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, said in a statement released by the U.S. Air Force.About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea as a deterrent against North Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a truce, not in a peace treaty. (Yonhap)

Jan 28, 2016

U.S. Pacific commander voices support for Aegis Ashore in Hawaii to counter North Korea threats

The U.S. Pacific commander said Wednesday he supports the consideration of establishing an Aegis Ashore missile defense facility in Hawaii to help counter missile and nuclear threats from North Korea.The Aegis Ashore system is the land version of the Aegis ballistic missile defense system used on Navy cruisers and destroyers. There have been reports that the U.S. is considering turning the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex in Kauai, Hawaii, into an operational facility."I've gone on record as talking about the Aegis Ashore facility in Hawaii. My point on that is it is something that we should consider," Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., commander U.S. Pacific Command, said during a discussion at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. "We have to weight all the pluses and minuses and all of that, when we're talking about the defense of the homeland, I think we should look at all the opportunities. The site in Hawaii may be a good opportunity," he said. "We shouldn't throw it out at first blush. I'm supportive of studying it further and then seeing where it goes."The comma

Jan 28, 2016

Attack drone to deploy in South Korea

/Screen captured from TwitterGeneral Atomics’ MQ-1C Gray Eagle drone will be deployed in Korea to improve the country’s defenses against North Korea.The announcement comes after North Korea’s fourth nuclear test on Jan. 6.The Gray Eagle is an upgraded version of the MQ-1 Predator. The Predator has proven its value during U.S. operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and the war against terror.U.S Forces Korea was going to deploy the Gray Eagle in 2017 but decided to introduce it this year.The drone can fly for 30 hours and has a maximum speed of 280 kilometers an hour.It can carry four missiles or bombs, including air-to ground-Hellfire missiles, air-to-air Stinger missiles and the Viper Strike guided bomb.The Gray Eagle, which costs about 2.5 billion won, came into service with the U.S. Army in 2009.

Jan 27, 2016
Attack drone to deploy in South Korea

Drones get laser weapon upgrade

/Screen caputred from TwitterThe U.S. military plans to mount laser weapons on drones to intercept ballistic missiles.A previous plan to put laser weapons on a Boeing 747 was abandoned four years ago because of flaws in the concept.This new project will allow the drones to intercept missiles from 20,000 meters above the ground and stay aloft for days.The military said the drones would be positioned above known launch sites so they could fire on enemy missiles the moment they were launched.Vice Admiral James Syring, who heads the Missile Defense Agency, said supplying the laser with enough power is the key to the new plan. 

Jan 27, 2016
Drones get laser weapon upgrade
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