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US next-generation air defense system seen deployed to USFK
The US military’s next-generation air defense system, the Indirect Fire Protection Capability, has been deployed to US Forces Korea for the first time, a photo released through the Pentagon’s public media archive showed Thursday. The photo shows a missile launcher identified as part of the IFPC in the background as US Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George shakes hands with USFK troops during his visit to Osan Air Base in Gyeonggi Province on Monday. It was uploaded to the Defense Visual Informat
Sept. 25, 2025 -
S. Korea, US concur 'significant' progress made in meeting conditions for wartime OPCON transfer
South Korea and the United States have concurred that "significant" progress has been made in efforts to fulfill conditions for transferring wartime operational command to Seoul from Washington, officials said Wednesday. The two sides shared the assessment during their senior-level regular defense talks held in Seoul from Tuesday to Wednesday. Earlier this month, the government confirmed the OPCON transfer as a key policy task for President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term and said it will draw up
Sept. 24, 2025 -
JCS nominee apologizes for military's actions in martial law fiasco
Jin Young-seung, nominee for South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, pledged political neutrality of the armed forces on Wednesday, while apologizing for the military’s involvement in former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s failed martial law declaration on Dec. 3. “Our military must return to principles and basics grounded in constitutional values to stand again as the people’s armed forces in this grave situation,” Jin told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly’s de
Sept. 24, 2025 -
JCS chief nominee vows to bolster readiness posture against 'complex' security threats
The nominee for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff pledged Wednesday to strengthen the military's readiness posture against what he called "complex" security threats. Air Force Gen. Jin Yong-sung made the remark as he attended a parliamentary confirmation hearing for the top military officer post. "I will fully prepare a military readiness posture that can prevail against complex security threats," Jin said, vowing to bolster the country's three-axis deterrence system and seek military co
Sept. 24, 2025 -
KF-16 goes off air base runway; no casualties reported
A KF-16 fighter jet went off a runway at an air base in the central city of Chungju on Tuesday, but no casualties were reported, the Air Force said. The excursion occurred at around 4:38 p.m. as the single-seat fighter jet was preparing to take off for training, the armed service said in a notice to reporters. The Air Force is looking into the exact scope of the damage and plans to launch an investigation committee to determine the cause of the accident. (Yonhap)
Sept. 23, 2025 -
US defense strategy poised to press South Korea for bigger military role: report
The Pentagon's forthcoming National Defense Strategy, set to be unveiled next month, is expected to press South Korea to take on greater military responsibilities and shoulder a larger share of defense costs, experts said Monday, signaling a possible shift in the alliance under the second Donald Trump administration. A report released by the state-run Korea Institute for Defense Analyses said the document will likely focus on four priorities: defending the US homeland, bolstering deterrence agai
Sept. 22, 2025 -
Lee vows to build smart, independent military through defense reform
President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday pledged to seek a powerful defense reform to build a smart and independent military that can protect the country from any invasion, instead of relying on the sheer number of troops. "While it is true that the population issue is serious and troop resources for the near term are insufficient, there is no need to worry about our defense capabilities by simply comparing the number of regular troops," Lee wrote in a post updated on his Facebook account. "Fifty peopl
Sept. 21, 2025 -
S. Korea, US to hold senior-level KIDD defense talks in Seoul next week
South Korea and the United States plan to hold their senior-level regular defense talks in Seoul next week, officials said Tuesday, in the face of thorny security issues, including Seoul's push to retake wartime operational control. The biannual Korea-US Integrated Defense Dialogue is set to take place on Tuesday and Wednesday, Seoul's defense ministry said. The upcoming meeting will mark the second KIDD gathering under the second Trump administration following the previous one held at the Penta
Sept. 17, 2025 -
Allies launch dual exercises amid N. Korea's rare twin threats
South Korea will launch two simultaneous military exercises on Monday: Freedom Edge, a trilateral outdoor multi-domain drill with the US and Japan, and Iron Mace, a nuclear-attack response planning tabletop exercise with the US. North Korea denounced the defensive exercises — which aim to enhance interoperability and sharpen readiness against North Korea’s mounting missile and nuclear threats — with concurrent press statements from two high-profile officials. Both exercises will be held for the
Sept. 14, 2025 -
At least 10 injured in explosion at Paju military base
At least 10 people were injured Wednesday in an explosion at a military base in the northern border city of Paju, the Republic of Korea Army said, with authorities saying the blast was caused by the detonation of an explosive device used in a simulation. According to military authorities, the blast took place around 3:29 p.m. at an artillery unit in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. At least 10 soldiers were injured in the incident, with two reported to be in serious condition. Several sustained burns to
Sept. 10, 2025 -
Philippines hails Korean fighter jets, eyes joint defense production
South Korea has become an indispensable partner in the Philippines’ military modernization, providing core assets such as FA-50 fighter jets. Now Manila is exploring ways to deepen that relationship through joint production, the Southeast Asian country's top defense official said Tuesday. On the sidelines of the 2025 Seoul Defense Dialogue, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro told The Korea Herald that Korean-built systems form the backbone of his country’s current capabilities. “Korea, as our tr
Sept. 10, 2025 -
Defense chief pledges both strong deterrence against, dialogue with N. Korea
South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Tuesday that his country will consistently pursue a “two-track approach” of strong deterrence and efforts at reviving dialogue by building cross-border trust with North Korea, as Pyongyang’s advancing nuclear and missile programs deepen regional security risks. In his opening speech at the annual 2025 Seoul Defense Dialogue held in Seoul, Ahn warned that the accelerating development of North Korea’s arsenal represents not only a threat to stabilit
Sept. 9, 2025 -
S. Korea, Japan defense chiefs pledge closer communication, eye cooperation in AI
South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Japanese Minister Gen Nakatani met in Seoul on Monday, where they pledged to strengthen security cooperation and communication, as well as partnership in advanced science fields. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the 2025 Seoul Defense Dialogue at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Yongsan, marked the first visit to South Korea by a Japanese defense minister in a decade. In a joint press statement, both sides welcomed the timing of Monday’s me
Sept. 8, 2025 -
From tanks to submarines: South Korea deepens defense footprint in Poland
KIELCE, Poland -- South Korean defense companies are accelerating their push into Poland’s expanding arms market, with new deals and ambitious bids unveiled at the annual International Defense Industry Exhibition, known as MSPO. Twenty-seven South Korean defense companies showcased their products in Poland last week, from Sept. 2 to Friday, leveraging a quickly deepening strategic partnership between Seoul and Warsaw to solidify their presence in Europe. The exhibition underscored that for Warsa
Sept. 8, 2025 -
S. Korea, US, Japan to hold trilateral Freedom Edge exercise this month
South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold their trilateral multi-domain Freedom Edge exercise this month, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday, in their continued efforts to deepen security cooperation against North Korea's military threats. The five-day exercise will take place in international waters east and south of South Korea's southern island of Jeju from Sept. 15-19, the JCS said. "The three countries will bolster their multi-domain operational capabilities in areas inc
Sept. 5, 2025