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Boeing defends Apache as South Korea reviews price
Senior executives of US aircraft maker Boeing on Wednesday defended the role of crewed helicopters, particularly its flagship Apache attack helicopter series, as Seoul reassesses its plan to purchase 3.3 trillion won ($2.2 billion) worth of Apaches. “The Apache is the most powerful attack reconnaissance helicopter in existence, with top-tier performance and reliability,” said Christina Upah, Boeing’s vice president and general manager of attack helicopters, at a press conference in Seoul. “No un
Feb. 12, 2025 -
N. Korea sends 200 long-range artillery units to Russia for military tech transfer: Seoul
South Korea’s Defense Ministry reported Tuesday that North Korea has continued supplying military aid to Russia since last year, including 200 units of long-range artillery, likely in exchange for Moscow’s support in developing intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear submarines. In its report submitted to the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee on Tuesday, the ministry stated, "North Korea has continued supplying weapons, ammunition, and other military support to Russia follow
Feb. 11, 2025 -
N. Korea signals resolve on ‘force-for-force’ strategy amid Trump's overture
North Korea on Tuesday signaled its unwavering resolve to stick to its strategy of countering force with force against the United States, accusing Washington of seeking dominance through military might and vowing stronger countermeasures against what it calls US provocations. A spokesperson for North Korea’s Defense Ministry issued a press statement, condemning the arrival of the nuclear-powered fast attack submarine USS Alexandria in Busan a day earlier for replenishment. The statement marks th
Feb. 11, 2025 -
Korea to invest W3tr in defense exports
The government and the ruling People Power Party on Monday agreed to put over 3 trillion won ($2.06 billion) into 10 local defense technology export areas, including artificial intelligence, aerospace and high-end materials for the next two years. The announcement comes as officials eye a rebound for the country’s arms exports, which remained sluggish throughout last year despite the country’s goal to become the world’s fourth-largest arms exporter by 2027. The 10 tech fields tied to defense wou
Feb. 10, 2025 -
US Indo-Pacific commander receives honorary Korean name
Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, has received an honorary Korean name and an honorary Taekwondo black belt from a South Korea-US alliance group, officials said Monday. Members of the Korea-US Alliance Foundation presented the name Seo Hae-seong and the honorary 7th degree black belt to the admiral during their visit to the command in Hawaii on Friday, the group said. According to the foundation, the name signifies becoming a person as vast as the sea and bright as a
Feb. 10, 2025 -
Ruling party calls for appointment of new defense minister amid security concerns
Defense ministry currently led by vice minister, No. 9 in military order of command The ruling conservative bloc has ramped up its call to appoint a new defense minister, highlighting that the current leadership vacuum poses a risk to security on the Korean Peninsula. The ruling People Power Party on Saturday called for the National Assembly to “actively participate” in coming up with practical measures to enhance security here, including nomination of the new defense minister. Vice Defense Mini
Feb. 9, 2025 -
North Korean leader says South Korea-US-Japan military cooperation causes regional conflict
Kim Jong-un reaffirms vow to develop ‘nuclear forces’ further as Trump, Ishiba agree to work on complete NK denuclearization North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has accused the trilateral military cooperation among South Korea, US and Japan of being a cause behind a “new conflicting structure” in the region, the North’s state media reported in English Sunday. The report came a day after US President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed to work towards complete denuclearizat
Feb. 9, 2025 -
Acting President Choi calls for robust military readiness, high morale
Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Friday called for an unwavering military posture amid heightened security tensions, urging commanders to maintain high morale among troops. Choi convened a meeting at the command and control center of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul, where he emphasized the need "to establish an unwavering chain of command and maintain readiness to respond immediately to any provocations from North Korea." Amid domestic political uncertainty, Choi urged the military not to be
Feb. 7, 2025 -
‘Three bullets, moldy rice’: N. Korean soldiers face dire conditions
North Korean conscripted soldiers endure brutal conditions, grappling with severe shortages of essentials — from bullets for training to food — and at times survive on corn powder or even moldy rice, according to a report by a South Korean state-run research institute. The Korea Institute for National Unification on Monday released a report titled "Military Life of North Korean People," detailing the harsh realities faced by North Korean conscripts under the Kim Jong-un regime. The findings are
Feb. 5, 2025 -
Up to 50% casualties among NK troops in Russia: US expert
North Korean troops deployed to support Russia’s war in Ukraine have suffered heavy casualties, with up to 50 percent killed or injured as Moscow continues to rely on “attrition warfare,” a US expert said. Seth Jones, director of the Defense and Security Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in a CSIS podcast that aired Tuesday, “The casualty numbers were astonishing ... with estimates ranging from one-third to 50 percent losses, meaning potentially 1,000 deaths.
Feb. 5, 2025 -
Russian missile kills four, wounds 17 in east Ukraine: governor
A Russian missile fired Tuesday on the eastern Ukrainian city of Izyum killed four people and wounded 17, the governor of the broader Kharkiv region said on social media. "According to initial reports, the occupiers used a ballistic missile. Four people were killed. As of now, 17 people are wounded and five of them have been hospitalised," governor Oleg Synegubov wrote on Telegram. (AFP-Yonhap)
Feb. 4, 2025 -
S. Korea’s arms exports likely to rebound despite political turmoil
S. Korea, Poland reaffirm arms cooperation as Seoul seeks to finalize W9tr K2 tank deal South Korea’s arms exports are expected to rebound despite concerns that the deepening political turmoil surrounding President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law controversy is undermining confidence in the country and impacting its defense industry, according to industry watchers and insiders. The rosy outlook comes as senior defense officials of South Korea and Poland reaffirmed the countries’ arms cooperation dur
Feb. 4, 2025 -
JCS chief vows firm response to NK threats in border inspection with UNC deputy chief
Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Adm. Kim Myung-soo vowed Monday to firmly respond in the event of North Korea's military provocations as he inspected readiness posture at a front-line unit, along with the deputy chief of the U.N. Command (UNC). Kim made the remark during a visit to a western front-line general outpost and guard post, accompanied by UNC Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Derek Macaulay, according to the JCS. During the visit, the top military officer ordered troops to establish an op
Feb. 3, 2025 -
S. Korea Navy launches task fleet command
South Korea’s military has launched a naval task fleet command that operates Aegis destroyers equipped with a radar system capable of detecting missiles up to 1,800 kilometers away as well as ballistic missile interceptors, to better counter North Korean provocations at sea. On Monday, the South Korean Navy held an inauguration ceremony for the Task Fleet Command at the Jeju Naval Base in Gangjeong on the southern coast of Jeju Island. “The Task Fleet Command will serve as a central unit to dete
Feb. 3, 2025 -
Top S. Korean, US Air Force commanders vow to bolster combined defense capabilities
The top Air Force commanders of South Korea and the United States held video talks Friday and vowed to enhance their combined defense capabilities through various joint training this year, the South's Air Force said. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Lee Young-su and his US counterpart, Gen. David W. Allvin, made the pledge in their first video conversation of the year, aimed at strengthening the partnership between the two nations' armed services. Both sides said they will faithfully conduct variou
Jan. 31, 2025