Most Popular
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Korea enters full election mode
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Seoul bus drivers go on general strike, cause morning rush hour delays
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Immigrant woman stabbed to death by Korean husband
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Official campaigning kicks off for April 10 elections
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Lee Jong-sup resigns as envoy to Australia
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Yellow dust engulfs S. Korea, advisory alert issued
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S. Korea to boost support for single-parent families
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Court upholds jail term for man who attempted to murder ex-girlfriend
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Kia EV9 wins world car of year
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Korea misses out on global bond index boost
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Korean military seeks to boost women's role, enhance political neutrality
The defense ministry on Wednesday announced additional military reform measures, including allowing female troops to gain greater access to combat positions and strengthening rules on political neutrality.The measures are part of efforts to flesh out the Defense Reform 2.0 that the ministry unveiled last Friday to create a slimmer yet stronger military in light of uncertain security conditions and evolving transnational and nonmilitary threats. (Yonhap)Among them is a plan to expand the propor
Aug. 1, 2018
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Defense unit dismisses allegations of martial law document after Roh’s 2004 impeachment
The Defense Security Command on Tuesday dismissed an opposition floor leader’s allegations that it drew up a document on the possible imposition of martial law after the 2004 impeachment of liberal former President Roh Moo-hyun.Earlier in the day, Rep. Kim Sung-tae of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party raised the allegations amid criticism that the DSC explored the possibility of imposing martial law to quash public protests against then-President Park Geun-hye. Soldiers at the entrance to
July 31, 2018
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Two Koreas’ generals hold talks to end cross-border hostilities
The two Koreas’ militaries “broadly agreed” on the need for disarming a jointly controlled area at the truce village of Panmunjom and excavating war remains inside the heavily fortified Demilitarized Zone, Seoul’s Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday. At general-level military talks held at Panmunjom Tuesday, the two sides’ delegates shared the need for the withdrawal of guard posts from the DMZ on a trial basis and suspension of hostile activities in the West Sea, the ministry said. The
July 31, 2018
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Recovering war remains best way to honor fallen heroes
PAJU, Gyeonggi Province -- Under the scorching sun at Gamaksan in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Lt. Col. Ju Gyeong-bae has been standing for hours looking for something unusual in the popular tourist destination famous for having the longest suspension bridge in South Korea. Wearing battle dress with a black vest, the 51-year-old Army officer looked as if he were trying to sell something. In fact, he was promoting collecting DNA samples from family members who had lost their loved ones during the K
July 30, 2018
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NGO accuses military intelligence unit of tapping former president
The military’s intelligence unit wiretapped a former president and defense minister and collected intelligence on a large number of civilians, a nongovernmental organization alleged Monday. The latest allegation against the Defense Security Command comes as the Ministry of National Defense speeds up the process of drawing up reform plans for the military intelligence unit. Lim Tae-hoon, chief of Center for Military Human Rights, speaks during a press conference in Seoul on Monday. YonhapOn Mond
July 30, 2018
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Two Koreas to hold general-level military talks this week
The two Koreas are set to hold general-level military talks Tuesday to discuss measures to enforce the military part of their April summit agreement.The meeting, the first since June 14, will take place at the Peace House, a South Korea-controlled building at the truce village of Panmunjom inside the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas, at 10 a.m., according to Seoul officials.Major Gen. Kim Do-gyun will lead South Korea’s five-member delegation, while the North Korean side will be repr
July 30, 2018
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Defense reform plan focuses on organizational change
The defense reform plan announced last week aims to overhaul the military’s command systems and troop organization amid the country’s growing need to adapt to the changing security landscape and the demographic shift. However, the plan lacks specific measures for changing the operational scheme in the event of a war with North Korea, which had been expected to be incorporated into the reform blueprint since the military floated the idea last year. The Ministry of National Defense on Friday unv
July 29, 2018
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Defense reform plan to cut generals, create ground command, retain 3-axis
South Korea will reduce the number of general-grade officers by about 17 percent over the next four years, in line with the overall troop drawdown scheme, as part of a new defense reform initiative aimed at creating a slimmer yet stronger military.The initiative also calls for launching the Ground Operation Command by merging the First and Third Army commands, an integration based on technological advancements that have reduced operational redundancies and allowed greater efficiency. President M
July 27, 2018
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Moon says martial law proposal itself an illegal act
President Moon Jae-in on Friday called for swift measures to overhaul the military intelligence unit, saying its controversial proposal in late 2016 to invoke martial law against anti-government protests represented an illegal act. President Moon Jae-in speaks at the meeting with the military`s top commanders at the presidential office on Friday. Yonhap"The military must fear the people more than anyone else. The Defense Security Command's (DSC) inspection of the families of people killed in the
July 27, 2018
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Chinese warplane enters S. Korea's air defense identification zone
A Chinese military airplane entered South Korea's air defense identification zone on Friday, prompting F-15K fighter jets to make an emergency sortie in response, Seoul's defense authorities said.It flew into the KADIZ from southwest of Ieo Island at around 7:10 a.m., moved along the southern and eastern coast before changing direction, according to the Joint Chief of Staff. It exited the zone at around 11:27 a.m., added the JCS.(Yonhap)The Chinese jet is believed to a Y-9 tactical aircraft.The
July 27, 2018
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US House passes defense bill restricting drawdown of troops in S. Korea
The US House of Representatives on Thursday passed a defense authorization bill that restricts any drawdown of American troops in South Korea.The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act, which approves $716 billion for defense in fiscal year 2019, passed the House by a vote of 359-54. Upon Senate approval, it will be sent to USPresident Donald Trump to sign into law. (Yonhap)The bill notes that about 28,500 American troops are currently stationed in South Korea as a demonstration of th
July 27, 2018
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Experts advise caution over rush to declare end to Korean War
With the two Koreas marking the 65th anniversary of signing the armistice agreement of the Korean War, the focus is now on whether they can realize their plan of declaring an official end to the war by the end of this year. The two Koreas have been pushing for a formal end to the war since President Moon Jae-in and North Koreas leader Kim Jong-un pledged to replace the armistice agreement with a peace treaty at the Panmunjom summit in April. But the idea should be pursued with caution and in c
July 26, 2018
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Moon stresses need for DSC reform, hints at possible consequences for defense minister
President Moon Jae-in on Thursday hinted at the possibility of penalizing the defense minister and stressed the need to reform the military’s intelligence agency. Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom holds a briefing on Thursday. YonhapAccording to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom, Moon raised concerns about recent developments surrounding the Defense Security Command’s drawing up of plans for a martial law declaration. The plans, drawn up during the demonstrations that led to the ouster o
July 26, 2018
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[Breaking] President Moon stresses need to reform military intelligence unit
President Moon Jae-in on Thursday stressed the need to get to the bottom of the controversial proposal from the military intelligence unit to invoke martial law, also calling for stepped up efforts to reform the intelligence agency."The key issue is to reveal the truth about the martial law documents. We must thoroughly identify why (the military) created such documents and how far it was willing to execute the plan," the president said, according to his spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom."We must thorough
July 26, 2018
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Martial law controversy escalates into power struggle in military
Controversy over a martial law document drawn up by the Defense Security Command has escalated into a power struggle between the Defense Ministry and its security command, with the chief of the two organizations blaming each other for the military’s handling of the document. The DSC suggested that it briefed Defense Minister Song Young-moo on the document “in a serious manner,” but Song delayed reporting the document to the presidential office. Defense Minister Song Young-moo (Yonhap)Song, on t
July 25, 2018
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Defense chief, DSC commander contradict each other on martial law plan
Controversy escalated Tuesday over the defense chief’s alleged attempts to delay briefing Cheong Wa Dae on a martial law document, with the defense security commander offering an account that contradicts the defense chief’s explanation. During a meeting with lawmakers, Defense Security Commander Army Gen. Lee Suk-koo said he had told Defense Minster Song Young-moo that the document was a “grave issue” and Song acknowledged its seriousness during the briefing on March 16. In the document titled
July 24, 2018
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Korea, US apart over 'operational military support' cost
In thorny defense-cost sharing talks with South Korea, the United States has created a new category -- operational support -- in an apparent bid to sharply raise Seoul's share of the costs, officials here said Tuesday.It's a major sticking point in the Special Measures Agreement negotiations, as the two sides are preparing for another round of bargaining late next month.(Yonhap)The allies had the fifth round of talks last week at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Seattle.The US choice of the venue w
July 24, 2018
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S. Korea pushes for withdrawal of guard posts from DMZ
The Defense Ministry said Tuesday it will seek to withdraw troops and equipment from guard posts inside the Demilitarized Zone, pledging to transform the heavily fortified area into a symbol of peace between the two Koreas. In a briefing to lawmakers, the Ministry of National Defense said the withdrawal plan would be sought “on a trial basis” until the conditions are in place for a complete withdrawal, following environmental and historical research on the cross-border region. A view of Camp Hum
July 24, 2018
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Korea, US to hold working-level defense talks this week
South Korea and the United States will hold biannual working-level defense talks in Seoul this week over a range of issues, including the planned transfer of wartime operational control, Seoul officials said Tuesday.The 14th Korea-US Integrated Defense Dialogue will take place from Wednesday through Thursday ahead of their annual minister-level Security Consultative Meeting to be held in Washington in late October. South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo, left, and President Moon Jae-in. (Y
July 24, 2018
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Defense, justice ministries to launch joint probe team into Defense Security Command
The defense and justice ministries on Monday announced a plan to launch a joint investigation into the scandal-ridden Defense Security Command, amid mounting controversy concerning the military organization’s involvement in drafting a martial law document. According to the Ministry of National Defense, the joint probe team will consist of military and civilian prosecutors. The measure is expected to boost the transparency of the investigation into retired military and civilian government offic
July 23, 2018