Allies set to kick off annual joint exercise

South Korea and the United States will conduct their annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise from Aug. 17-27 to strengthen their defense posture against potential contingencies on the Korean Peninsula, the allies announced at a press conference Monday. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command announced the schedule for this year's UFS, describing it as an "annual exercise of a defensive nature." The exercise will incorporate realistic scenarios reflecting l

2026-08-10 15:18:12:00

Report on US missile shortage raises concerns over South Korea's air defenses

Concerns are growing in South Korea over the possibility that the United States could draw down key air defense assets on the Korean Peninsula, following a New York Times report that US missile stockpiles have been depleted by the war with Iran. The New York Times reported Saturday, citing senior US officials and people briefed on weapons stockpiles, that supplies of key precision weapons and air defense missiles had fallen to "troubling levels." According to the report, more than 1,500 Patriot

2026-08-09 15:09:07:00

North Korea launches SRBM into East Sea: JCS

North Korea fired one short-range ballistic missile into the East Sea on Thursday, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff. The military said it detected the launch at around 5 p.m. from the area of Wonsan, Kangwon Province, on North Korea's east coast. The military did not immediately disclose details such as the type or flight range of the projectiles. Thursday's launch marks North Korea's 10th ballistic missile launch event this year, coming 42 days since the North test-fired tactica

2026-08-06 17:17:54:00

Army seeks counterintelligence overhaul against AI-based threats

South Korea’s Army has begun work to overhaul its counterintelligence system to respond to increasingly sophisticated intelligence activities, particularly those involving artificial intelligence, by North Korea and neighboring countries, the military said Thursday. According to the military, the Army Headquarters recently commissioned a policy study on the future organization and operational concept of its counterintelligence capabilities in light of advances in technology and changes in the se

2026-08-06 13:58:10:00

S. Korea to launch preparations for Asia’s first Invictus Games

South Korea will begin preparations for the 2029 Invictus Games in Daejeon, the first edition of the international sporting event for wounded service personnel and veterans to be held in Asia, Veterans Minister Kwon Oh-eul said Wednesday. During a policy briefing presided over by President Lee Jae Myung, Kwon said the government plans to enact a special law and launch an organizing committee in 2027. The games are scheduled to take place from Oct. 6-15, 2029, at the Daejeon Convention Center and

2026-08-05 15:00:30:00

Seoul aims to set target year for wartime command transfer in fall: ministry

South Korea will seek to decide on a target year for regaining wartime operational control from the United States at annual defense ministerial talks this fall, Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Wednesday. During a policy briefing to President Lee Jae Myung at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Ahn said Seoul and Washington would discuss the final timing of the transfer at the Security Consultative Meeting to be held in November. “We will discuss the full operational capability assessment with the US defe

2026-08-05 14:30:38:00

North Korea denounces South Korea-US-Japan military, cyber cooperation

North Korea on Tuesday denounced growing security cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan, warning that their participation in a major multinational naval exercise would prompt Pyongyang to develop new deterrent capabilities. The Korean Central News Agency criticized the recently concluded Rim of the Pacific exercise, or RIMPAC, describing it as a US-led war rehearsal that has entrenched security instability in the Asia-Pacific region. The biennial exercise, which ran from Jun

2026-08-04 14:51:59:00

Army suspends 1st Corps commander after US drone mishandling

The commander of the 1st Corps has been removed from duty amid scrutiny over a series of readiness lapses, including the recent mishandling of US military drones operating near the western front, military officials said Monday. Lt. Gen. Han Ki-sung was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, with an acting commander appointed to lead the corps, according to the Army. The move comes days after drones detected in an area overseen by the 1st Corps were initially classified as unide

2026-08-03 17:54:20:00

Military counterintelligence command reform takes shape

South Korea on Monday formally launched a new military counterintelligence system built around three separate organizations, completing the breakup of an agency that has faced numerous accusations of wrongdoing. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back attended Monday’s launch ceremony for the Defense Counterintelligence Agency in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. He called on the organization to focus on countering espionage and emerging security threats while remaining under firm democratic control. Maj. Gen.

2026-08-03 15:17:33:00

JCS probes lapse after US drones mistaken for hostile aircraft

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday it would inspect the Army’s 1st Corps after frontline troops mistook a US military drone involved in a joint exercise for hostile aircraft, activated an air-defense alert and prepared to shoot it down. The JCS plans to examine the corps’ surveillance and reporting procedures and determine whether it properly maintained its operational readiness during Thursday’s incident. “We plan to conduct an on-site inspection of the 1st Corps to closely examine

2026-07-31 17:08:58:00