South Korea - The Korea Times

'ROK-US alliance stronger than ever'

By Kang Seung-wooSouth Korean and U.S. chairmen of their respective Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) reaffirmed Thursday that the Korea-United States alliance is stronger than ever.In addition, they agreed that both countries will firmly respond to any provocation by North Korea, in accordance with the South Korea-United States bilateral counter-provocation plan, signed in March.Gen. Jung Seung-jo and Gen. Martin Dempsey convened the 37th Military Committee Meeting (MCM) via secure video teleconference instead of meeting each other, given the current conditions on the Korean Peninsula.Dempsey stressed the firm and unwavering commitment of the United States to the defense of the Republic of Korea, using all available military capabilities, including forces based on the Korean Peninsula, its nuclear umbrella, and conventional strike and missile defense capabilities.Jung echoed the South’s commitment to strengthening the level of its capabilities and enhancing the level of military cooperation in the region, in response to North Korea’s ongoing pattern of defiance and provocative

Apr 18, 2013By Kang Seung-woo

Boeing wins $1.6 billion attack helicopter project

By Kang Seung-woo Boeing's AH-64D ApacheThe AH-64E, better known as the Apache Guardian, has been chosen as the country’s multi-billion dollar attack helicopter project, the weapons procurement agency announced Wednesday.According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), the Boeing product beat the Bell AH-1Z Viper and the Turkish Aerospace Industry-AgustaWestland T-129 in a three-way competition for 36 attack helicopters worth $1.61 billion (1.8 trillion won).DAPA said Korea will start bringing in the choppers in 2016 and complete the deployment by 2018.Korea will be the fourth nation in the world following Taiwan, Saudi Arabia and the United States to employ the variant of the AH-64D, also used by the U.S. 2nd Infantry Division.The project, titled “Attack Helicopter Experimental,” was initiated in 2008 by the South Korean Army in order to counter any North Korean infiltration along the South’s coastline and to fly counter-penetration missions along the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas.The three helicopters pitched for th

Apr 17, 2013

Boeing wins $1.6 billion attack helicopter project

No sign of missile launch: USFK

By Kang Seung-wooAn official from the United States Forces Korea (USFK) said Tuesday that there were no signs of North Korea launching a missile any time soon.“We are seeing nothing in North Korea that suggests that anything is going to threaten South Korea,” the official told reporters on condition of anonymity.Pyongyang has threatened to fire medium-range “Musudan” missiles this month. These have a range of up to 4,000 kilometers, and are capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam, where U.S. Air Force and Navy bases are located.In addition, he also said any missiles launched would probably not be aimed at any targets.“The missiles might be shot into the waters like back in 2009,” he said.The North has threatened to attack the U.S. mainland as well as Guam and Hawaii with nuclear weapons ― bellicose rhetoric that the White House said last week Pyongyang could not back up.“I want to be clear that North Korea has not demonstrated the capability to deploy a nuclear-armed missile,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters,

Apr 16, 2013

Early warning systems augmented

A North Korean vehicle carries a missile during a mass military parade in Pyongyang’s Kim Il-sung Square to celebrate the centenary of the birth of the late North Korean founder Kim Il-sung in this April 15, 2012, file photo.                                                                                                                           / AP-YonhapBy Kim Tae-gyuSouth Korea and the United States have deployed all available military resources as a missile launch by North Korea to coincide with the anniversary of the birth of its late founder Kim Il-sung on April 15 looks imminent.State-of-the-art ground, sea and air radar systems are being fully utilized, military officials said Wednesday. Reconnaissance satellites and unmanned aerial vehicles are also in operation a

Apr 10, 2013

NK orders Gaeseong workers pulled out

Operations at S-N industrial park on `temporary' holdBy Kim Tae-gyuNorth Korea said Monday it will shut down the inter-Korean joint industrial complex in Gaeseong and withdraw all its workers there.According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), the ruling Workers’ Party secretary Kim Yang-gon visited the city to officially order the shutdown of the last remaining major project between the two Koreas. It did not give an exact timeline for the move, although it could take place as early as today.“As South Korean warmongers undermine our dignity and reduce the Gaeseong zone to a theater of internecine confrontation and northward provocations, we will tentatively close it and then decide whether it should keep operating,” the KCNA quoted Kim, who is in charge of the North’s South Korean operations, as saying.“It entirely depends on South Korea’s attitudes how the situations will develop in the future ... All of our workers at the park will withdraw.”Kim rebuffed the previous belief that the North will not scrap the “dollar-box” p

Apr 8, 2013

Draft exemptions for sportsmen to be reduced

By Kim Jae-wonThe Military Manpower Administration (MMA) said Monday that it will tighten regulations on military service exemptions for sportsmen and artists to better guarantee equality and fairness.It plans to adopt a score-based system to waive military service for sportsmen and artists who contribute to boosting the nation’s image on the world stage.Currently, sportsmen are exempt from serving military duties if they win any medal in the Olympic Games or a gold medal in the Asian Games. Artists, such as classical music performers, dancers and actors, can also enjoy the same privilege when they reach the top or achieve second place at an international competition, or win a local one.“It is unfair that sportsmen and artists are waived from their duties with just a one-time win. We will introduce a score-based evaluation system to make the process fairer,” stated the agency in its report to the National Assembly.Under the new system, the agency will give scores to athletes and artists based on their performance in competitions, and those who will earn certain scor

Apr 8, 2013

B-2 bombers fly over in show of force against NK

A nuclear-capable B-2 from the U.S. 509th Bomber Wing flies over Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. The strategic bomber, which flew nonstop from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. to Korea, participated in the Foal Eagle exercise and carried out a practice bombing run. / YonhapBy Kang Seung-wooIn a strong show of force against North Korea, two B-2 U.S. stealth bombers took part in an annual joint military exercise Thursday.The inclusion of the hi-tech aircraft came shortly after the defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States reaffirmed their joint commitment to fight together in the event of any provocative action taken by North Korea.The Korea-United Combined Forces Command (CFC) announced that the strategic bombers, capable of launching nuclear-armed missiles, carried out a bombing drill as part of the Foal Eagle exercise which is scheduled to run through April 30.“Demonstrating the commitment of the United States and its capability to defend South Korea, the U.S. Strategic Command sent two B-2 Spirit bombers for a long-duration, round-trip training

Mar 28, 2013By Kang Seung-woo

B-2 bombers fly over in show of force against NK

NK presses on with nuke test

President Lee Myung-bak, right, and President-elect Park Geun-hye enter a conference room in Cheong Wa Dae to discuss countermeasures against North Korea’s nuclear test, Tuesday. / YonhapBlast bigger than previous 2; Park, Lee issue condemnationBy Chung Min-uck  North Korea conducted a third nuclear test at an underground site in Punggye-ri in the northeast of the country, Tuesday morning.According to Seoul officials, the size of the blast was estimated at 6 to 7 kilotons on the basis of the aftershock, which was bigger than the previous two blasts but still short of 10 kilotons, the threshold for a “significant’ level of nuclear capability.President Lee Myung-bak and President-elect Park Geun-hye held an emergency meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, and condemned the North’s action.“We will stress all steps, including taking it to the United Nations, to make the North give up its nuclear weapons,” said senior presidential secretary Chun Young-woo after a National Security Council meeting presided over by Lee.“We will push for the early deplo

Feb 12, 2013

JCS chief hints at preemptive strike

By Kang Seung-woo Gen. Jung Seung-jo, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffThe chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Wednesday that the military was ready to take a “pre-emptive strike” against the North if it showed any sign of using nuclear weapons in the future.The statement came ahead of a possible third nuclear test by North Korea, and excluded getting prior approval from the United States.“If there is a clear intent that North Korea is about to use a nuclear weapon, we will eliminate it first even at the risk of a war,” said Gen. Jung Seung-jo at a National Assembly plenary session.“A pre-emptive attack against the North trying to use nuclear weapons does not require consultation with the United States and it is the right of self-defense,” he said.Nevertheless, a close discussion including a pre-emptive strike option between Korea and the United States means sharing comprehensive strategies aimed at containing North Korea, he said.Jung said the military is not mulling targeting the testing location in Punggye-ri; but said he w

Feb 6, 2013By Kang Seung-woo

'Park should get to know Xi Jinping personally'

President-elect Park Geun-hye, left, speaks during a recent meeting of the presidential transition team in Seoul. The right photo shows Chinese leader Xi Jinping receiving a letter from Park Geun-hye at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 23. Kim Moo-sung of the ruling Saenuri Party delivered the hand-written letter.                                                                / Yonhap  Linda JakobsonBy Sunny LeeBEIJING ― Korea and China, despite their different political systems, can co-exist peacefully and it would be very helpful if incoming President Park Geun-hye, who speaks Chinese, gets to know the country’s new leader Xi Jinping personally, said Linda Jakobson, an internationally well-known expert on China’s foreign and security policy.In 2004, when outlining his vision for peace in the Middle East, U.S. President George Bush said: "Democracies don't go to war wit

Feb 4, 2013

Defense