Most Popular
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Court refuses injunction on medical school expansion
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Why Korean crime stories typically feature nameless, faceless perpetrators
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Debate on 'no-seniors zones' heats up
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Rare mid-May heavy snow warning issued over mountainous areas of Gangwon
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S. Korea, Cambodia forge strategic partnership
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Is NewJeans headed for a long 'break'?
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[KH Explains] Hyundai-backed Motional’s struggles deepen as Tesla eyes August robotaxi debut
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Police raid popera singer Kim Ho-joong's house over hit-and-run suspicions
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Trump may like to 'solve' N. Korean nuclear problem if reelected: ex-official
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New Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office chief vows full-fledged probe into first lady
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S. Korea, US hold joint combat training
South Korea and the United States pressed ahead with a regular joint military exercise this week amid renewed inter-Korean exchanges ahead of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, a defense official here said Thursday.The four-day Warrior Strike drill involved American troops, including those from the 2nd Infantry Division, stationed in Korea, as well as some South Korean soldiers. It ended earlier in the day with no related announcement by either side, according to the official, who spoke on conditi
Feb. 1, 2018
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Korea's Navy gets new anti-submarine warfare frigate
South Korea's Navy on Thursday received a brand-new guided missile frigate with strong anti-submarine warfare capabilities, the country's arms agency said.The 2,800-ton Daegu ship features stealth design and uses a hybrid electric drive propulsion system, which reduces noise and enables rapid maneuvers when necessary, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration.It's also equipped with a towed array sonar system and Hong Sang Eo long-range anti-submarine torpedos. South Korean Nav
Feb. 1, 2018
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NK could be ‘wiped out off map’ if it uses nuclear weapon against allies: defense minister
South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo on Monday delivered a stern warning against North Korea’s nuclear and missile program, saying its use of nuclear weapons would cause the reclusive state to be “wiped out off the map.” However, the minister expressed skepticism over the prospect of North Korea attacking the US or South Korea with a nuclear-tipped missile, describing Pyongyang’s nuclear threat as more of a propaganda strategy than a viable option. During a Q&A session with his offic
Jan. 29, 2018
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Defense Minister says NK's use of nuke would be 'suicidal'
South Korea's top defense official voiced doubt Monday that North Korea will use its nuclear weapons, saying that such an act would be "suicidal.""The North Korean regime will probably be removed from the map if it uses developed nuclear weapons against South Korea or the United States," Defense Minister Song Young-moo said at a security forum in Singapore, which was webcast live.He dismissed the Kim Jong-un regime's talk of a nuclear strike as a "propaganda" strategy, not something that will ac
Jan. 29, 2018
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Mattis says Korea talks can't distract from denuclearization
US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday that Olympics talks between North and South Korea should not distract from the internationally agreed goal of denuclearizing the North. Mattis spoke during a photo session with South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo at US Pacific Command headquarters. Mattis welcomed the North-South talks but said a campaign of diplomatic pressure will continue unabated. He said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un should get the message that his nuclear and missile p
Jan. 28, 2018
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Mattis: US could 'fight tonight' if S. Korea attacked
WASHINGTON -- US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis on Thursday has reaffirmed his country's commitment to the defense of South Korea, saying his troops could "fight tonight" if the Asian ally were to come under attack.Mattis was speaking to reporters en route from Vietnam to Hawaii near the end of a regional trip that also took him to Indonesia."The defense of South Korea is a treaty alliance with us," he said, according to an official transcript. He explained that the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an
Jan. 26, 2018
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Can allies’ defense chiefs find ways to capitalize on Olympic Detente?
Expectations are growing over the upcoming meeting between the defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States, with the allies seeking to use an Olympic detente to foster a thaw in inter-Korean relations and North Korea’s denuclearization. But the challenge looms large, as a standoff appears to persist between Washington and Pyongyang. While the North is preparing for a military parade a day before the opening of the PyeongChang Olympics on Feb. 9, reports have emerged that US strategic b
Jan. 25, 2018
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Korea, US defense chiefs to meet in Hawaii Friday
WASHINGTON -- The defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States will meet in Hawaii Friday to discuss issues related to the bilateral alliance, including North Korea.Speaking to reporters Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said he will meet with South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo on his way home from his current trip to Asia."Just because we have an opportunity out here to link up in the field, makes it easier for both of us -- on the travel side," he said en route from I
Jan. 25, 2018
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Opposition lawmaker calls for suspension of troop reduction plan
The chairman of the parliamentary defense committee on Monday called for the suspension of the government's plan to curtail its forces and shorten mandatory service terms for conscripts.Rep. Kim Hack-yong of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party stressed that troop strength is still crucial given that North Korea's 1.28-million-strong military far outnumbers South Korea's 625,000-strong military.Last week, the defense ministry reaffirmed its plan to reduce the number of troops to half a millio
Jan. 22, 2018
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[Video] Footage shows Canadian soldiers during Korean War
On Friday afternoon, young Korean college players and Canadian soldiers faced off for a friendly game of ice hockey, a commemorative event to honor the Canadian veterans who had fought in the Korean War (1950-53), and to mark the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games opening next month.While the annual Imjin Classic Hockey Games have been held every year, this time, the match was being hosted at the very site where over 60 years ago, the Canadian soldiers played in a brief escape from the brutalities
Jan. 19, 2018
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Govt. to mobilize Air Force planes, Coast Guard vessels to safeguard Olympics from terrorism
Korea will take a series of measures to safeguard the upcoming PyeongChang Winter Olympics from terrorism, with Air Force planes patrolling around the venues and Coast Guard vessels and commandos standing guard off shore, the government said Friday.The government announced these measures after a meeting of the national anti-terrorism committee presided over by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, as Korea is making last-minute checks on preparations for the Feb. 9-25 games.Under these measures, police wi
Jan. 19, 2018
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Korea to streamline OPCON transition procedures
South Korea said Friday that it will push for an agreement with the US in May on their envisioned combined command in preparation for the wartime operational control transition.The move is part of the defense ministry's roadmap on procedures necessary to regain its OPCON from the US as early as possible.The allies have agreed to seek a "conditions-based" transition tied to South Korea's own defense capability and the development of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction.The liberal Moon Jae-i
Jan. 19, 2018
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Navy to get new submarine
South Korea's Navy will receive a new diesel-electric air-independent propulsion submarine Friday capable of staying underwater more than 10 days, the state arms agency said.The Defense Acquisition Program Administration plans to deliver the Hong Beom Do submarine to the Navy in a ceremony at the shipyard of Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan.Named after a respected independent fighter during Japan's colonial rule in the early 1900s, it's the seventh of South Korea's 214-type Son Won Il-class sub
Jan. 19, 2018
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US confirms plans for strategic assets deployment
South Korea and the United States have agreed to continue US deployment of strategic assets to and around the Korean Peninsula, Seoul’s government said Thursday, in a bid to maintain military pressure on North Korea despite signs of an Olympic detente between the two Koreas. During Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group meetings held Wednesday in Washington, the US reaffirmed its commitment to provide extended deterrence for South Korea using a full range of its military capabili
Jan. 18, 2018
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Former President Lee “directly involved” in signing secret military pacts with UAE: lawmaker
Former President Lee Myung-bak was involved in signing secret military pacts with the United Arab Emirates, a progressive opposition lawmaker said Wednesday, adding fuel to political controversy surrounding the former president. Rep. Kim Jong-dae of the minor Justice Party claimed that Lee was involved in bringing about the military pact that includes dispatching South Korean troops to the UAE. The agreement was tantamount to a mutual defense treaty, requiring Korea to send its troops to the UAE
Jan. 17, 2018
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Two Koreas set for military talks, but challenges remain
With the two Koreas gearing up for military talks to ease tensions, the focus is now on how much progress they will be able to make, as the US continues to raise concerns over North Korea’s motive behind its diplomatic overture. In a joint statement released Tuesday, the two Koreas agreed to hold military talks and additional high-level meetings, with Pyongyang agreeing to send its delegates and athletes to the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Prospects of the military talks, however, rema
Jan. 10, 2018
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Korea's Marine Corps gets first multirole choppers
South Korea's Marine Corps received the first two multirole helicopters from the country's arms agency Wednesday, moving a step toward its aim of creating an independent aviation unit.The MUH-1s, the Marine version of the KUH-1 Surion developed by Korea Aerospace Industries, represent the first major aircraft possessed by the 28,800-strong troops since they were integrated into the Navy in 1973.The Marine Corps has since relied on the assets of the Navy, the Army and the Air Force to transport i
Jan. 10, 2018
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South Korea, UAE vow to bolster ties amid controversy over secret military pacts
Amid escalating controversy over secret military pacts between South Korea and the UAE that allegedly commit Korean troops to the Middle Eastern country in a contingency, the two countries Tuesday pledged to bolster bilateral ties, elevating their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. “I hope our relationship will become something between brothers,” said President Moon Jae-in during a meeting with Khaldoon Khalifa al-Mubarak, chairman of the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dh
Jan. 9, 2018
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Govt. opens task force meeting on defense industry reform
South Korea's defense authorities had an inaugural meeting Tuesday on resetting the arms acquisition sector, which has been dogged by corruption scandals and public criticism over its incompetence, in line with President Moon Jae-in's far-reaching reform drive.Co-chaired by Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk and Jeon Jei-guk, minister of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the session included 40 senior interagency officials. Vice Defense Minister Suh Choo-suk (L) and DAPA Minister J
Jan. 9, 2018
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USS Carl Vinson on its way to Western Pacific
USS Carl Vinson, an aircraft carrier of the US Navy, is en route to the Western Pacific, the Navy announced Sunday.The nuclear-powered supercarrier, accompanied by several guided-missile destroyers and other warships, left its homeport in San Diego last week for the "regularly scheduled deployment" to the region, it said without revealing the scheduled arrival date and mission period.The transition comes as part of the Third Fleet Forward initiative to enable the unit to support the operations o
Jan. 7, 2018