Most Popular
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Marine Corps commander summoned by CIO for questioning on alleged influence-peddling case
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Debate rages over ‘overly fatty’ samgyeopsal
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[Weekender] Korean psyche untangled: Musok
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40 flights canceled on Jeju Island due to bad weather
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[Eye Interview] 'If you live to 100, you might as well be happy,' says 88-year-old bestselling essayist
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From fake prostitution ring to nonexistent robber, prank calls hamper police
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Top prosecutor orders speedy investigation into first lady's alleged acceptance of luxury handbag
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Missing S. Korean traveler in Paris found safe after 2 weeks
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Defense chiefs of US, Australia, Japan decry NK-Russia military cooperation
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N. Korea slams US, other countries for seeking alternative to UN sanctions monitoring panel
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Seoul to develop unmanned stealth aircraft to counter Pyongyang
South Korea will develop a stealth unmanned aerial vehicle to counter North Korea's long-range artillery and mobile missile systems, a South Korean defense official said Sunday.The development is part of the 31 research projects to be conducted by the South Korean military by the end of next year, the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Yonhap News Agency.These stealth UAVs will stand by at higher altitudes than other aerial defense systems owned by North Korea and thwart the ene
Dec. 6, 2015
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KAI seeks to boost foray into Indonesian defense market
Korea Aerospace Industries forged a strategic partnership Friday with PT Dirgantara Indonesia, a state-run plane developer, as it seeks to expand its foray into the Southeast Asian country’s defense market following the export of its trainer aircrafts. Under the agreement, the two firms will crank up cooperation in the areas of both military and civilian aviation and the development of unmanned aerial vehicles and other systems by creating a joint panel and holding two rounds of meetings every y
Dec. 4, 2015
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Korea to raise defense budget 3.6% to W38.8tr
The country’s defense budget is set to hike 3.6 percent to 38.8 trillion won ($33.3 billion) next year on the back of an increase in salaries and production costs of utility helicopters and other weapons systems. Overall, more than 27.1 trillion won was allotted for force operations, while some 11 trillion won will be spent to advance defense capabilities such as by continuing the establishment of the Kill Chain and the Korea Air and Missile Defense preemptive strike systems slated to be complet
Dec. 3, 2015
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U.S. promises ‘maximum possible’ KF-X help
Washington will provide the “maximum possible” support for Seoul’s initiative to develop fighter jets, the State Department said Tuesday, amid skepticism over the project’s prospects following the U.S.’ refusal to hand over core technologies. The department has denied export licenses for the four technologies conditionally promised last year to be transferred by U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin, citing its national technology protection policy. The four are critical in crafting integrated syst
Dec. 2, 2015
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4,500 U.S. troops to deploy to Korea next year as part of force rotation
A U.S. Army brigade with some 4,500 troops will deploy to South Korea early next year as part of a regular rotation of forces, the Department of the Army announced.The 1st Cavalry Division's 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team will replace the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team that was deployed in June under a decision to replace a permanent brigade, which had been stationed in South Korea since 1965, with a rotational unit.Rotation takes place every nine months."The 1st Cavalry Division reflects mutu
Dec. 2, 2015
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U.S. to provide maximum support for Korea's KF-X project: State Department
The United States will provide maximum support for South Korea's indigenous fighter jet development project, the State Department said Tuesday, dismissing speculation that Washington might be reluctant to back the program.The State Department is responsible for approving U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin's promised transfer of key technologies to South Korea for the fighter program, known as the "KF-X" project.Speculation about U.S. reluctance arose after reports that the department was negativ
Dec. 2, 2015
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Air Force air control unit expands for joint operations
The Air Force on Tuesday launched its newly expanded tactical air control group to meet the military’s growing needs of joint operations. The organization is an upgrade from the previous tactical air control group established in 1961 as a training unit for joint air-ground operations and to take charge of close air support operations and air control during missions to destroy enemy weapons. To improve the duty effectiveness and communications with other military branches, the Air Force plans to
Dec. 1, 2015
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New Marine Corps brigade created in Jeju
A new Marine Corps brigade was launched Tuesday to undertake a mission to defend the southern resort island of Jeju and its adjacent area, the Marine Corps said.The new 9th Brigade will take over the mission to secure the safety of the southern island area from the Navy-led Jeju Defense Command, which was recently decommissioned in a reshuffle.The Navy established the new Jeju Naval Base Squadron in lieu of the dissolved command to take charge of a naval base which will be launched early next ye
Dec. 1, 2015
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Korea steps up drone development
In May 2014, many South Koreans were struck by the discovery of three crashed drones in frontline areas that had been flown in from North Korea. Albeit crude, the small devices had taken photos of major military installations on border islands, potential infiltration routes and the presidential palace in downtown Seoul, kindling concerns over a potential security breach and lax air defense. Boosted by the brisk advancement of aerospace power following two World Wars, drones have revolutionized m
Nov. 30, 2015
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Korea's nuclear power reliance 4th-highest worldwide: report
South Korea's reliance on nuclear power is the fourth-largest in the world while its use of renewable energy ranks near the bottom, a report showed Monday.According to the World Factbook by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, Asia's fourth-largest economy possessed a total installed power generation capacity of 94 gigawatts, placing it 13th in the world. The country's annual electricity generation output stood at 517 terawatts placing it 11th, while it ranked 10th in terms of consumption at 48
Nov. 30, 2015
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Jeju base conceived as military-civilian port
JEJUDO ISLAND ― Minutes after the bus drifted down a tote road toward the shore, a glassy cobalt blue ocean unfolded menacingly, with two newly paved, sprawling breakwaters being occupied by a small fleet of naval ships including an Aegis-equipped destroyer and submarines. Following several years of protests and subsequent delays, the Navy is gearing up to introduce a strategic naval base on this scenic island as early as January as part of Seoul’s efforts to shore up its maritime defense. A cap
Nov. 29, 2015
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Navy set to unveil new base on Jeju, maritime choke point for N. Korea
Concluding two decades of preparations and controversies, the Navy is set to unveil a new naval base on the southern resort island of Jeju, where it could launch warships against North Korea's potential provocations in a dramatically shortened amount of time. The construction work for the Jeju civil-military sea port base, spanning nearly 500,000 square meters with docks running some5 kilometers in the direction of the East China Sea, is 96 percent complete as of late November, according to Capt
Nov. 29, 2015
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Philippines goes supersonic again with S. Korean fighter jets
CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines (AFP) -- The Philippines took delivery of two South Korean-made FA-50 aircraft on Saturday, marking the country's return to supersonic fighter jet status after almost a decade, amid growing tensions with China.The two new aircraft are the first of an order of 12 and signal a new readiness by Manila to assert itself militarily.The two fighters, flown from Seoul by South Korean pilots, were met in Philippine airspace by two S211 jets which escorted them to the former US
Nov. 28, 2015
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Who is responsible for troubled KF-X?
With Korea’s push to build homegrown fighter jets turning increasingly vapid in the face of a string of setbacks for U.S. technology transfer, calls are growing to clarify where the responsibility lies.The responsibility issue has come to the fore since Washington was found to have vetoed last April the U.S. defense firm Lockheed Martin Corp.’s envisioned handover of four technologies vital for Seoul’s project to introduce its own first KF-16-class warplanes by 2025, dubbed KF-X or Boramae. (Yo
Nov. 27, 2015
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KAI makes first delivery of fighter jets to the Philippines
Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd., South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer, said Friday that it has made the first delivery of its multi-mission jets to the Philippines, further solidifying its status as an aircraft exporter. The two FA-50PH took off from Sacheon, 437 kilometers south of Seoul, to make the 2,482 kilometer "ferry flight" to the Philippines. The pair are expected to arrive at Clark Air Base on Saturday, KAI said. The ferry flight involves the planes being directly flown to their
Nov. 27, 2015
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Air Force introduces 3-D printing in maintenance of fighter jets
The Air Force has introduced three-dimensional printing in its production of engine components for fighter jets which helps cut budget and time on maintenance, it said Thursday. So far this year, 14 of the Air Force's F- 15K fighter jets have been repaired with 3-D printed high-pressure turbine shrouds, an engine component, according to the Air Force. The engine part originally costs 40 million won ($34,900) per unit and takes about 60 days to procure from abroad, With the introduction of the
Nov. 26, 2015
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Fighter development project faces setback
South Korea’s project to develop its own fighter jet appears to be facing yet another setback, as some Washington officials are reportedly opposed to a U.S. defense firm’s transfer of technologies to facilitate the project.Defense Minister Han Min-koo(left) and Chang Myoung-jin, the head of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, attend a parliamentary session on Wednesday.(Yonhap)Lockheed Martin has agreed to offer the 21 technologies in “broad terms,” but the U.S. State Department dema
Nov. 25, 2015
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Korea-U.S. nuclear accord to go into effect Wednesday
A new nuclear treaty between South Korea and the United States will take effect later Wednesday, a government official said. Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se plans to exchange a related memorandum of understanding with U.S. Ambassador to Seoul Mark Lippert in a ceremony slated for 6 p.m., he added. In April, the two sides struck the deal to allow Seoul to expand its peaceful nuclear activity. South Korea also left the door open for the possibility of enriching uranium or reprocessing spent nuclea
Nov. 25, 2015
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DAPA under fire over plane tech transfer date
South Korea’s defense acquisition agency came under fire again Tuesday upon concerns that their plans to secure all technologies from the U.S. this month to develop an indigenous fighter jet may not be feasible on time. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration had said that Washington would give its approval for the export of 21 technologies from Lockheed Martin by early November, and that Washington should do so under a bilateral agreement.But the U.S. requested recently that the two side
Nov. 24, 2015
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Seoul faces dilemma over constitutional claim to N.K.
South Korea is facing a diplomatic dilemma over the clause in its Constitution that treats North Korea as part of its territory, as Japan’s plans for contingencies on the peninsula appear to disregard it.Seoul has argued that as South Korea’s sovereignty extends across the North according to its domestic law, Tokyo should secure consent from Seoul should it want to deploy troops there.But Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said during his talks with Seoul’s Defense Minister Han Min-koo last
Nov. 24, 2015