South Korea - The Korea Times

South Korea will resume loudspeaker broadcasts today

This file photo shows a set of loudspeakers used to broadcast anti-Pyongyang messages near the Demilitarized Zone./ YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooSouth Korea will resume propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts along the border with North Korea at noon today in retaliation against Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test, Cheong Wa Dae said, Thursday.The broadcast was suspended four months ago after the two Korea reached an agreement to promote peace on Aug. 25.“The North’s nuclear test violated its obligations and commitments with the international community and failed to honor the Aug. 25 agreement,” said Cho Tae-yong, deputy chief of the National Security Office, during a briefing.Under the inter-Korean deal, Seoul stopped blaring propaganda messages critical of the Kim Jong-un regime at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and agreed not to resume them unless “abnormal” events should take place. The South views the nuclear test as an abnormal situation, Cho said. “As a result, the government has decided to resume the propaganda broadcasts at noon on Jan. 8,”

Jan 7, 2016

South Korea will resume loudspeaker broadcasts today

S.Korea resumes loudspeaker broadcasts against North on border at 12:00 pm

Korea, US beef up defense readiness

By Kim Hyo-jinSouth Korea and the United States beefed up their joint defense readiness after North Korea claimed Wednesday to have conducted its first successful hydrogen bomb test.“The allies have increased surveillance activities to monitor the North Korean military,” said Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok during a press briefing. “The military held a teleconference of commanders and shared information on the current situation while enhancing the vigilance posture against North Korea.” “We will take necessary countermeasures against the North’s nuclear test under the South Korea-U.S. alliance in cooperation with the international community,” he said.Defense Minister Han Min-koo discussed the situation over the phone with his U.S. counterpart, Ash Carter.The ministry formed a joint counter-crisis team with the Joint Chiefs of Staff following the detection of seismic activity in North Korea. The military was then put on high alert and surveillance of North Korea strengthened, according to another defense ministry official who aske

Jan 6, 2016

N. Korea claims successful H-bomb test

KF-X contract signed, but doubts linger

By Kim Hyo-jin The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) signed a contract with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), Monday, to develop the nation’s first indigenous fighter jet with technologies to be provided by Lockheed Martin.Initially, the arms agency planned to develop fighter jets by 2025 to replace the Air Force’s aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s. However, the targeted year for development was pushed back by one year due to the controversy over the technology transfer, officials said.DAPA spokesman Col. Kim Si-cheol said that according to the contract, KAI will manufacture six test planes and finish system development for the indigenous jets by June 2026. It also aims to produce 120 fighter jets by 2032. “We estimate 10.5 years for system development for the KF-X. The project is expected to be completed by the first half of the year 2026 and the production process will be able to start from the second half of that year,” Kim said.Following the contract with DAPA, KAI is set to select an engine provider for fighter jets and work on their design a

Dec 28, 2015

'Korea, US, Japan discussing role of Self-Defense Forces'

By Yi Whan-wooThe role of Tokyo’s Self-Defense Forces in the event of a military contingency on the Korean Peninsula has been discussed at a series of security talks held by South Korea, the U.S. and Japan since October, according to military sources, Thursday.They declined to make public the talks due to the sensitivity of the issue.The disclosure comes amid Tokyo’s dubious stance over whether its military would forcibly enter the Korean Peninsula in the event of a war against North Korea.“The working-level dialogue among brigadier generals from the three countries took several meetings following their first in October,” a source said.The Ministry of Defense refused to confirm such claims, only saying, “The three allies agreed to keep every detail concerning their negotiations behind closed doors.”The sources said that the government’s secret move indicates the sensitive nature of the talks regarding Japanese troops and their possible presence on the peninsula.“The government at least disclosed the time and place prior to such meetings

Dec 24, 2015By Yi Whan-woo

'Remains of NK soldiers sent to China by mistake'

By Yi Whan-wooThe government is looking into allegations that North Korean soldiers who died during the 1950-53 Korean War were mistakenly classified as Chinese soldiers and their remains sent to China.The Ministry of Defense said Tuesday that it is possible that an unknown number of North Koreans were included among 505 Chinese war dead whose remains have been returned to China for reburial since March 2014.If the allegations turn out to be true, that could cause trouble in the Sino-South Korean relations that are currently booming.“Some of our officials raised suspicions that there may have been a mistake in classifying excavated remains of soldiers killed during the war,” ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said.“At the moment, we don’t know if the remains of North Koreans were sent to China or not. We’ll find out how this happened if that is the case.”He added Defense Minister Han Min-koo has approved the investigation.The defense ministry has led the exhumation project after President Park Geun-hye offered to repatriate the remains of fallen Chine

Dec 22, 2015

S. Korea launches 2nd next-generation landing ship

South Korea launched on Tuesday its second next-generation landing vessel with upgraded mobility that will be deployed for operations in 2017, the Navy said.The second edition LST-II, the Cheonjabong, is 4,900 tons and capable of sailing up to 23 knots at full speed, with the service of 120 crew members, according to the Navy.The vessel, built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, is capable of delivering about 300 fully armed landing forces and carrying landing boats, tanks and two helicopters, the Navy said.The landing vessel is also equipped with a domestically developed combat system and command post for landing operations. The next-generation ship has higher mobility compared with the Navy's four landing vessels of the Go Jun Bong-class LST-1.During peacetime, the new ship will carry out transport missions and shift to response operations in the event of conflicts, the Navy said.The new vessel will undergo performance tests before being delivered to the Navy in late 2016. The Navy will deploy it for operations around March 2017 after integrating warfare capabilities into the ship.Also on

Dec 15, 2015

US uneasy about S. Korea's handling of fighter jet project

The United States is displeased with South Korea's disclosure of information related to its troubled fighter jet development project, multiple sources here said Monday.South Korea has sought the transfer of two dozen technologies from the ally in its $15-billion program, codenamed KF-X, aimed at producing its own fighter jet to replace the aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s.This desire for technology is one of the key reasons for Seoul's decision last week to buy 40 F-35s from Lockheed Martin.But the U.S. has refused to transfer four technologies -- the active electronically scanned radar (AESA), infrared search-and-rescue system (ISRS), electro-optical targeting pod and radio frequency jammer -- according to the Defense Acquisition Procurement Administration (DAPA).Washington is also reportedly negative about handing over some of the other 21 technologies, including the twin-engine system, requested by Seoul.South Korean media and lawmakers have paid keen attention to the issue, critical of DAPA's handling of it.Under growing public pressure, the DAPA has formally stated that it is contin

Dec 7, 2015

Air Force uses 3D printers to produce aircraft components

By Yi Whan-wooThe Air Force said Thursday that it is using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology to produce parts for F-15K fighter jet engines.It said it has used 3D printers that are capable of duplicating metal products in ready-to-use form since January to produce 14 cover plates for high-pressure turbines mounted on F110-GE-129 engines, which power the F-15K Strike Eagles that have been in operation since 2005.With the growing adoption of 3D printing technology in various industries, the Air Force has sought to capitalize on such cutting-edge technology to save costs and time in obtaining aircraft components.A number of those components are expensive, imported, take time to deliver and are often out of stock, according to officials.The Air Force first decided to use 3D printers and supply cover plates for the F-15Ks after finding out in September 2012 that some of them were worn out.The Air Force worked with Insstek Inc., a metal component manufacturer in Daejeon, for the last two years to duplicate the cover plates.General Electric (GE), the U.S manufacturer which builds t

Nov 26, 2015By Yi Whan-woo

Arms agency faces audit over KF-X deal

By Yi Whan-wooThe National Assembly is seeking to adopt a motion calling for the government to look into the country’s troubled fighter jet development project.Lawmakers of the Assembly's National Defense Committee started a debate on whether to adopt the motion Wednesday, amid speculation that most members of the panel will support the motion.If it is approved at a plenary session, the Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) must open an investigation into the KF-X project, led by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).The project is designed to replace the Air Force’s aging fleet of F-4s and F-5s and build indigenous combat jets by 2025. The total estimated costs will be 18 trillion won ($15.7 billion).DAPA, which is under the wing of the Ministry of National Defense, agreed with Lockheed Martin, a U.S. arms manufacturer, to receive 25 aviation technologies related to F-35 stealth fighters in return for purchasing 40 F-35s in a deal in September 2014.Lockheed Martin, however, has been refusing to transfer four core technologies, citing disapproval of the U.S.

Nov 25, 2015By Yi Whan-woo

US okays Harpoon missile sale

By Yi Whan-wooThe U.S. government has approved the sale of submarine-launched missiles and associated equipment to South Korea, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) of the U.S.The DSCA, which operates under the U.S Department of Defense, said Wednesday that it notified Congress of the proposed sale of the UGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles and 13 Block II upgrade kits for an estimated cost of $110 million.It also said the approval was announced by the U.S. Department of the State. The prime contractor is Boeing, it added.According to the Seoul government, the U.S Department of State is responsible for determining whether to export highly sensitive military arms and related equipment in coordination with the Pentagon.“It is vital to U.S. interests to assist our South Korean ally in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the DSCA said in a press release. “The proposed sale will provide a defensive capability while enhancing interoperability with the U.S. and other allied forces.”The South Korean Navy has sou

Nov 19, 2015By Yi Whan-woo

Defense