The Korea Herald

Allies to write defense plan on N. Korea

Oct 28, 2011

South Korea and the U.S. agreed to establish a joint operational plan to counter North Korean provocations within this year and strengthen bilateral cooperation in dealing with cyberspace threats, the allies’ defense chiefs said Friday. They also decided to craft a “tailored bilateral deterrence strategy” to bolster their capabilities to handle North Korea’s nuclear threats and those from its we...
Full text of joint communique of ROK-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting

Oct 28, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- The following is the full text of the joint communique issued after the 43rd South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting in Seoul Friday. 1. The 43rd Republic of Korea-United States Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) was held in Seoul on October 28, 2011. ROK Minister of National Defense Kim, Kwan Jin and U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta led their respecti...
S. Korea, U.S. agree to prepare joint operational plan against N. Korea

Oct 28, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- Defense chiefs of South Korea and the U.S. on Friday agreed to pursue a joint operational plan to counter potential provocations by North Korea at their annual bilateral security meeting in Seoul. After the 43rd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), South Korean Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said they "thought highly" of the de...
U.S. to strengthen Pacific military presence: Panetta

Oct 26, 2011

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta reiterated Wednesday that the U.S. will not only maintain its military presence in the Pacific region, but strengthen it, dismissing speculation over a possible troop drawdown in South Korea. The new American defense chief made the remarks during his meeting with U.S. troops in Seoul. He arrived here in the afternoon as part of his first Asian tour that includ...
U.S. defense secretary visits S. Korea

Oct 26, 2011

SEOUL, Oct. 26 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta arrived in South Korea Wednesday for the first time for an annual bilateral security meeting. Panetta will meet with his South Korean counterpart Kim Kwan-jin at the 43rd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) on Friday and will also pay a courtesy call to President Lee Myung-bak during his three-day stay. Later Wednesday, Panetta is s...
Defense chiefs of South Korea, U.S. to hold security talks

Oct 25, 2011

The two defense chiefs of South Korea and the U.S. will hold their annual security meeting in Seoul on Friday to discuss regional security and pending bilateral military alliance issues, officials at the Ministry of National Defense said Tuesday. During the 43rd Security Consultative Meeting, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin and his U.S. counterpart Leon Panetta will also touch on ways to enhance j...
Concern rises over T-50 export after U.S. deferral

Oct 25, 2011

The U.S. Defense Acquisition Board’s deferral last week of its decision on whether to acquire new trainer jets from overseas has prompted concern here about the export of Korea’s T-50 supersonic aircraft. The Korean aviation industry and government officials paid keen attention to what decision the DAB would make at its Oct. 21 session. They believe that the T-50 is one of the strongest contende...
Speculation rises over possible reduction of U.S. troops here

Oct 24, 2011

Attention is being drawn to whether there would be any U.S. troop drawdown here on the Korean Peninsula should the U.S. slash its defense budget as part of a deficit reduction plan. As U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is to come here for the annual South Korea-U.S. Security Consultative Meeting slated for Friday, speculations abound that discussions over it could take place. The U.S. defense...
U.S. military presence in Asia to remain firm despite budget cut: Panetta

Oct 24, 2011

BALI, Indonesia, Oct. 24 (Yonhap) -- Making his first trip to Asia as U.S. defense chief, Leon Panetta sought to dispel concern that Washington's plan to slash its defense budget in the coming years would diminish its military presence and operations in Asia. "Our goal is to try to strengthen the alliances that are there and to try to ensure that we build new partnerships to try to improve the s...
S. Korean overseas contingents envoys of ‘military diplomacy’

Oct 21, 2011

Korean troops garner wide support from locals through various programs Although he has to treat scores of patients in Haiti each day, Army surgeon Capt. Park Hae-bong never tires from his crucial mission to heal not only their bodies but also their minds, scarred in the aftermath of the earthquakes in January 2010. It has been only about two months since he left behind his 22-month-old son and ...
Military worker involved in e-mail hacking

Oct 20, 2011

Another senior military worker was found to have collaborated in a recent hacking incident, officials at the Defense Ministry said Thursday, fueling speculation that military operatives have illegally monitored civilians. Military investigators also arrested an Army warrant officer on Tuesday, on suspicion of directing two subordinates to hack into emails of a professor at Chosun University in t...
Tech transfer vital for fighter jet project

Oct 20, 2011

Foreign competitors ndicate willingness to help Korea acquire combat aircraft technology Attention is being drawn to what technology foreign competitors can offer for South Korea’s next generation fighter procurement. Under the “FX-III” project, the Seoul government plans to purchase a high-end fleet of about 60 fighter jets with a budget of around 8.3 trillion won ($7.3 billion), seeking to de...
European consortium of Typhoon fighter jet offers technology transfer to S. Korea

Oct 19, 2011

MUNICH/MADRID (Yonhap News) -- With South Korea scheduled to select the winner of its project for 60 new fighter jets next fall, the European consortium of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft has offered to fully share its technology with its South Korean partners. Germany, Spain, Italy and Britain are partners in the development and production of the Typhoon, with their consortium of Cassidian, a subs...
Defense Ministry expands budget for cyber defense

Oct 18, 2011

The national budget to protect defense systems against cyber attacks has been increased for next year amid increasing threats, the defense ministry said Tuesday. The ministry said in a statement that the budget allocated for defending defense information for next year has been pegged at 25.8 billion won ($22.4 million), an increase of 8.6 percent from this year. It said 15 billion won will be s...
S. Korea to hold 1st meeting to address U.S. military crimes

Oct 18, 2011

South Korea’s inter-government task force to better deal with crimes by American soldiers will hold its first meeting this week, the foreign ministry said Tuesday. The task force, consisting of senior officials from the foreign ministry, police, the defense ministry and the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command, was formed last week amid brewing public outrage after two United States soldier...