North Korea deploys new destroyer, stresses push for nuclear-capable navy

North Korea has deployed a new destroyer, state media reported Wednesday, with leader Kim Jong-un stressing that the push to establish a nuclear-armed navy was on course. According to the North’s state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun, the 5,000-ton destroyer Choe Hyun was deployed into active service on Tuesday. The paper quoted Kim as saying that the North Korean navy is growing into a branch that has “strategic assets” and that its nuclear armament was advancing according to plan. “This makes (Nor

2026-06-24 14:25:49:00

North Korean soldier under investigation after crossing MDL overnight: JCS

A North Korean soldier is under investigation after crossing the Military Demarcation Line into South Korea on Tuesday night, Seoul’s military said Wednesday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it secured custody of the North Korean soldier along the central section of the de facto inter-Korean border on Tuesday night. “Relevant details are under investigation by related authorities,” the JCS said in a statement. The soldier is believed to have expressed a wish to defect to South Korea, according to

2026-06-24 13:33:50:00

S. Korea, US discuss defense industry cooperation in Washington

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense held an industry conference in Washington on Tuesday to explore broader cooperation with the United States in defense technologies and industrial supply chains. The event marked the first South Korea-US defense and defense industry cooperation conference held in the United States, according to the ministry. The conference, hosted by Seoul’s Vice Defense Minister Lee Doo-hee, was attended by about 120 officials and experts, including Michael Vaccaro, act

2026-06-24 11:53:35:00

Opposition leadership rift deepens over Jang’s postelection strategy

The rift in People Power Party leadership appears to be widening, with two top officials repeatedly clashing over postelection strategy and how to assess the conservative party’s performance in the June 3 local elections. The tension between party Chief Jang Dong-hyeok and Floor Leader Jeong Jeom-sig has surfaced three times over the past week, even as Jang remains hospitalized due to exhaustion. The latest dispute was triggered by a party report released Sunday under the official name of the Pe

2026-06-23 15:24:28:00

Defense Ministry raises concerns with UNC over North Korea’s DMZ activity: sources

The Ministry of National Defense has lodged concerns with the United Nations Command over its handling of North Korea’s activity inside the Demilitarized Zone, sources said Tuesday. The move came after the South Korean military detected signs that North Korean troops had expanded border fortification work to areas within 100 meters of the Military Demarcation Line, including the installation of fences and land-clearing activity believed to be linked to mine-laying operations. A Defense Ministry

2026-06-23 11:48:11:00

South Korea turns to AI as personnel shortage strains military medical system

South Korea’s military has begun work on a plan to incorporate artificial intelligence into its medical system, as a sharp decline in military doctors raises concerns over the sustainability of its professional personnel-driven healthcare structure. According to military officials Monday, the Armed Forces Medical Command recently commissioned a policy research project to draw up a long-term development plan for AI-based military medicine. The move comes as the military faces growing pressure to

2026-06-22 14:59:49:00

North Korea’s MDL fortification violates 1953 armistice: Seoul

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense on Monday said North Korea’s recent installation of barriers near the Military Demarcation Line constitutes a violation of the two nations' armistice agreement. The remarks followed reports that North Korean troops had been installing fences close to the MDL. The de facto border has separated the two Koreas since the 1953 armistice suspended active hostilities in the Korean War. According to reports, North Korea has installed barbed-wire fences in some

2026-06-22 14:50:00:00

Defense minister faces growing backlash over military reform plans

South Korea’s defense minister is facing mounting criticism that his military reform plans are more focused on settling political scores than pursuing structural reform. According to the National Assembly’s public petition system, a petition calling for the impeachment of Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back had drawn more than 92,000 signatures as of Monday, just four days after it was posted on June 18. Under the Assembly’s petition rules, a public petition that receives at least 50,000 signatures wi

2026-06-22 13:21:22:00

Seoul expects favorable EU response on steel quota concerns: Lee

President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that Seoul expects a favorable outcome from the European Union over concerns about the bloc’s planned steel tariff-rate quota measures, which could affect South Korea's steel industry. Lee said he raised the issue directly with EU leaders during his recent visit to Brussels. Earlier, a senior presidential official said Brussels had responded that it would take Seoul’s request into full consideration. He made the remarks during a briefing at Cheong Wa Dae on th

2026-06-19 17:50:29:00

Lee highlights US role in breaking North Korea deadlock

President Lee Jae Myung said Friday he told US President Donald Trump that Washington needs to play a central role in reviving diplomacy with North Korea. Stressing the need to first freeze Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile development, he explained that leaving the current deadlock unresolved would only allow the North to advance its weapons programs, making future talks more difficult. Lee made the remarks during a press briefing at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, a day after returning from his 10-day t

2026-06-19 17:21:49:00