The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Thu, August 11, 2022 | 17:44
Pentagon creates new office to probe UFO reports
Posted : 2021-11-25 11:18
Updated : 2021-11-25 11:18
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
gettyimagesbank
gettyimagesbank

The Pentagon is creating a new office to investigate unidentified flying objects amid concerns that after broad probes it cannot explain mysterious sightings near highly sensitive military areas.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, working with the U.S. director of national intelligence, ordered the new investigatory body to be established in the U.S. Defense Department's intelligence and security office, the Pentagon said late Tuesday.

The order came five months after a classified U.S. intelligence report on possible alien UFOs came up inconclusive: it could explain some reported incidents but was unable to account for other phenomena, some filmed by pilots near military testing areas.

The new office will focus on incidents in, or near, designated "special use airspace" (SUA) areas strictly controlled and blocked from general aviation due to security sensitivities.

The U.S. military is worried some of the unidentified aerial phenomena spotted by military pilots in the past may represent technologies of strategic rivals unknown to U.S. scientists.

gettyimagesbank
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks / AP-Yonhap

"Incursions by any airborne object into our SUA pose safety of flight and operations security concerns, and may pose national security challenges," the Pentagon said in a statement.

The Defense Department "takes reports of incursions ― by any airborne object, identified or unidentified ― very seriously, and investigates each one," it added.

The new office was dubbed the Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group (AOIMSG), the successor to the US Navy's Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force.

It will be overseen by a panel of experts from the military and intelligence community.

A mostly classified official review of UFO reports released in June determined that most of around 120 incidents over the past 20 years could be explained and had nothing to do with unknown or secret US or foreign technology.

But it could not explain some beguiling reports and videos made by military personnel.

Last year, the Pentagon released a still inexplicable video taken by navy pilots of objects moving at incredible speeds, spinning and mysteriously disappearing.

China's July test of a globe-circling hypersonic vehicle that was able to launch a separate missile while traveling at more than five times the speed of sound alerted Washington that Beijing might have technologies the United States has yet to develop. (AFP)


 
LG
  • Korea urged to take preemptive steps to deal with climate change-induced disasters
  • What Seoul's worst rainfall in 115 years looked like
  • Musinsa's new store becomes hot spot in southern Seoul
  • Flood damage to vehicles during torrential rain to hit insurers
  • 'Children must play right now'
  • Bill Gates expected to meet with top business leaders in Korea
  • Seoul reiterates that '3 Nos' policy is not commitment to China
  • Han River sunset cruise: Seoul's new tourist focal point
  • [INTERVIEW] Polish arms deal may well lead to greater opportunities for Korea: expert
  • Samsung aims to attract more users with new foldable phones
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • 'Good Doctor' director to debut Netflix's high-strung suspense series, 'A Model Family' 'Good Doctor' director to debut Netflix's high-strung suspense series, 'A Model Family'
    • Death of young webtoon artist sparks controversy over harsh working conditions Death of young webtoon artist sparks controversy over harsh working conditions
    • Musical 'Kinky Boots' tells people to love themselves as they are Musical 'Kinky Boots' tells people to love themselves as they are
    • Crime thriller 'Limit' is about mother's quest to save abducted son Crime thriller 'Limit' is about mother's quest to save abducted son
    • From P1Harmony to Zico, K-pop hotshots to perform in Abu Dhabi next month From P1Harmony to Zico, K-pop hotshots to perform in Abu Dhabi next month
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group