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US Patriot missile batteries in S. Korea to be temporarily deployed to Middle East
South Korea and the United States have recently agreed on a plan to temporarily deploy Patriot missile defense batteries from the South to the Middle East, sources said Friday, amid speculation over a potential shift in the role of the US Forces Korea. The allies agreed last month on the "monthslong" partial deployment of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3, the first known case involving the relocation of USFK assets to the Middle East, according to the sources. The missiles work alongside South
April 4, 2025 -
Military bolsters surveillance posture against N. Korea on day of Yoon's impeachment ruling
South Korea's military bolstered its surveillance posture against North Korea on Friday, an official said, as the Constitutional Court is set to deliver its ruling on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment later in the day. The Constitutional Court is poised to announce its verdict on Yoon's impeachment at 11 a.m., nearly four months after he was impeached by the National Assembly over his brief imposition of martial law on Dec. 3. The military has expanded operations of surveillance equipment, s
April 4, 2025 -
Foreign envoys witness — and ride — Korea’s K2 tank, K9 howitzer in action
CHANGWON, South Gyeongsang Province — Foreign ambassadors and diplomats from 15 countries climbed aboard the K2 Black Panther tank and K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzer for a ride during a visit to production facilities, where they witnessed the assembly process firsthand. The Foreign Ministry-led tour provided diplomats with an A-to-Z and behind-the-scenes look at Korea’s homegrown defense systems — from the assembly line on the factory floor to a live demo of how they performed in the field.
April 3, 2025 -
Defense Ministry reiterates 'no military mobilization' for 2nd martial law even if Yoon returns
The Ministry of National Defense on Thursday reaffirmed its stance not to comply in the hypothetical event that currently suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol is reinstated and orders the reimposition of martial law. The ministry's reassurance comes a day before the Constitutional Court announces its ruling on the impeachment trial of Yoon, who has been charged with insurrection and power abuse regarding his orders following the Dec. 3, 2024 declaration of martial law. "Our stance still stands, whi
April 3, 2025 -
Chinese national arrested for alleged attempt to buy military secrets
South Korean military authorities have arrested a Chinese suspect accused of attempting to obtain classified military information by persuading a South Korean soldier to leak it, the Defense Ministry said Thursday. The Defense Counterintelligence Command is investigating the man after detaining him on suspicion of violating the Military Secrets Protection Act. A South Korean soldier, currently on active duty, has also been taken into custody for allegedly cooperating with him. According to the m
April 3, 2025 -
Seoul denies reports of US request for military commitment against China
The Defense Ministry on Wednesday dismissed local media reports alleging the United States had requested that Seoul clarify its role and commitment in a potential military conflict in the Indo-Pacific region involving China. In a statement sent to press in Seoul, the ministry said no such inquiry had been made, responding to an article published earlier in the day by Hankook Ilbo. The local daily, citing multiple diplomatic and military sources, reported that Washington had recently inquired abo
April 2, 2025 -
Acting president orders troops to respond overwhelmingly to enemy's provocations
Acting President Han Duck-soo visited troops on the front lines Tuesday and ordered them to respond overwhelmingly to any provocation from the enemy. Han met with troops of the Army's 1st Infantry Division in the border city of Paju and checked the military's readiness. "Under the grave security situation, we must anticipate all provocation scenarios that North Korea could stage and prepare thoroughly," he said. "Deter the enemy's provocations by maintaining a firm military readiness posture and
April 1, 2025 -
USFK denies claim of possible deployment under Korean martial law
United States Forces Korea on Tuesday dismissed online claims suggesting that US troops stationed in South Korea could be mobilized if Seoul were to declare martial law, labeling such assertions as false information. The denial came in response to a post made Sunday on social media platform X, where a user wrote in Korean: "If spies or China are related to the wildfires, it could immediately lead to DEFCON, martial law and US military deployment," refering to local news reports covering a US mes
April 1, 2025 -
Concerns rise in S. Korea over potential shift in role of USFK
Seoul should brace for Washington's possible adoption of 'strategic flexibility' for US troops here, expert says Concerns are mounting in South Korea over a potential shift in the role of the 28,500 US troops stationed here amid evolving nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. Such worries have existed for decades, but have been exacerbated following US President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January, experts noted. The possibility of the second Trump administration diverting
April 1, 2025 -
Defense Ministry says USFK role on Korean Peninsula 'will remain unchanged’
South Korea’s Defense Ministry on Monday attempted to dispel concerns over speculations that the second Trump administration could reduce the number of US troops stationed here in order to focus on deterring threats from China and bolstering homeland defense. “The biggest role of the US Forces Korea in South Korea is to uphold the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and that will remain unchanged,” Seoul's Defense Ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyou said during a regular press briefing. J
March 31, 2025 -
Acting president slams North Korea’s ‘illegal arms trade’ with Russia
Acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Friday said that North Korea’s ongoing illegal arms trade with Russia has allowed the “degenerate” regime to plot new forms of provocations. “Through illegal arms trade with Russia, (North Korea) has been plotting new forms of provocations by upgrading its weapons system aimed to threaten us,” Han said in a speech marking the 10th West Sea Defense Day. Friday’s ceremony was held at the national cemetery in Daejeon to honor and remember the 55 s
March 28, 2025 -
Arms agency chief discuss K9, cooperation in Norway
The head of the state arms procurement agency held talks with key defense officials in Norway earlier this week to discuss arms industry cooperation and the operation of the South Korean K9 self-propelled howitzer, officials said Friday. Seok Jong-gun, minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, met Norway's State Secretary of Defence Andreas Flam on Wednesday, according to DAPA. In the meeting, they discussed Norway's operation of self-propelled howitzers, as well as potential u
March 28, 2025 -
North Korea 'probably prepared' for nuclear test to gain edge in talks: Gabbard
North Korea is likely ready to conduct another nuclear test to gain the upper hand in potential negotiations, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated Tuesday, citing Pyongyang’s expanding strategic weapons program and growing ties with Russia as additional factors strengthening its negotiating position against Washington. “North Korea is probably prepared to conduct another nuclear test on short notice and continues to flight test ICBMs to demonstrate their increasing capabilit
March 26, 2025 -
Navy holds remembrance ceremony for fallen sailors of 2010 warship sinking by N. Korea
The Navy held a ceremony Wednesday to honor sailors killed during the 2010 sinking of the Cheonan corvette by a North Korean attack in the Yellow Sea. The 1,200-ton warship sank near the western Northern Limit Line, a de facto inter-Korean maritime border, in March 2010, after a North Korean midget submarine fired a torpedo. The attack killed 46 sailors, while 55 others were rescued. About 200 guests, including bereaved family members and surviving sailors, took part in the ceremony marking the
March 26, 2025 -
2 Air Force pilots suspended from air duty for 1 yr after accidental bombing of civilian area
The Air Force on Friday suspended two pilots from air duty for one year after they mistakenly dropped multiple bombs on a civilian village earlier this month, injuring dozens of residents. On March 6, two KF-16 fighter jets dropped eight MK-82 bombs outside a training range in Pocheon, some 40 kilometers north of Seoul, during live-fire drills, injuring 52 people, including 38 civilians. The Air Force has booked the two pilots on charges of negligence resulting in injury, and conducted a qualifi
March 21, 2025