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NK formalizes troop deployment, signals deeper alliance with Russia
North Korea’s first official acknowledgment of its troop deployment to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, following around six months of silence, on Monday comes at a timely moment domestically to frame its participation in a more favorable light, as Russia claims momentum on the battlefield has shifted in Moscow’s favor ahead of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Observers in Seoul view that Pyongyang’s announcement is externally aimed at securing reciprocal commitments — effectivel
April 28, 2025 -
Marine Corps holds large-scale amphibious landing drills in Pohang
The Marine Corps said Monday it staged regular amphibious landing drills in a southeastern coastal city as part of efforts to maintain combat readiness. The drills took place at a coastal area in Pohang, about 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, mobilizing some 3,200 troops, KF-16 fighter jets and various Navy vessels, including the ROKS Marado amphibious assault ship, according to the Marine Corps. Troops first scouted the area using reconnaissance drones before landing on the coast aboard amphi
April 28, 2025 -
S. Korean soldier accidentally fires machine gun at inter-Korean border
A South Korean soldier at the inter-Korean border accidentally fired a machine gun toward North Korea last week, prompting the military to air broadcasts to notify the North of the mistake, military officials said Sunday. The accident happened at around 6:00 a.m. Wednesday when the soldier mistakenly fired a single round from the K6 heavy machine gun from a guard post inside the Demilitarized Zone separating the two Koreas in Cheorwon County, about 70 kilometers north of Seoul, according to the
April 27, 2025 -
S. Korea, US to hold regular KIDD defense talks at Pentagon next week: spokesperson
South Korea and the United States plan to hold their key regular defense talks in Washington next week, a Pentagon spokesperson said Thursday, in a sign that the allies are maintaining close security cooperation under the Trump administration to counter evolving North Korean threats. The spokesperson said that the Korea-US Integrated Defense Dialogue is set to take place at the Pentagon on Thursday and Friday. The upcoming meeting will mark the first KIDD gathering since US President Donald Trum
April 25, 2025 -
US Navy chief likely to visit South Korea next week: sources
US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan is expected to visit South Korea as early as next week, sources with knowledge of the matter said Thursday, a trip likely aimed at discussing shipbuilding cooperation in line with the Donald Trump administration's initiatives. Phelan's office has finalized the plan and is fine-tuning the details of the itinerary with government officials and relevant industries in Seoul, according to the sources. Phelan is likely to visit major South Korean shipyards during h
April 24, 2025 -
S. Korea, US, Japan hold tabletop exercise ahead of 3-way defense talks
South Korea, the United States and Japan held a working-level meeting in Seoul this week in preparation for the next round of Defense Trilateral Talks, the three countries' vice-ministerial-level security dialogue, the Defense Ministry said Thursday. The meeting took place Tuesday and Wednesday at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Yongsan, central Seoul, with participation from Andrew Winternitz, US deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia; Woo Kyung-seok, South Korea’s deputy dire
April 24, 2025 -
Same 2 Chinese nationals caught taking photographs near Pyeongtaek US military base again
Two Chinese nationals were caught taking photographs near a US military base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday, just two days after being questioned and released for the same activity, officials said. On Monday, the pair had been stopped for photographing military facilities and aircraft near Osan Air Base. At the time, police had said there was no evidence of “anti-state activity” and released them without charges. The same decision was made when the duo were caught taking photogra
April 24, 2025 -
Arms agency chief meets senior EU, NATO officials to discuss defense cooperation
The head of South Korea's arms procurement agency held talks with high-level European Union and North Atlantic Treaty Organization officials this week to discuss ways to expand defense industry cooperation, his office said Thursday. Defense Acquisition Program Administration Minister Seok Jong-gun met European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius in Brussels on Wednesday, as Seoul seeks to strengthen arms industry ties with Europe amid the continent's rearmament push. During the t
April 24, 2025 -
Korea, US to keep Nuclear Consultative Group under Trump administration
South Korea and the United States will keep their Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) running under the administration of US President Donald Trump despite speculation it could be scrapped, with its next meeting set to take place as early as June, an official said Wednesday. The NCG was launched by former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and former US President Joe Biden following their April 2023 summit to strengthen the US "extended deterrence" commitment to defending its ally South Korea wit
April 23, 2025 -
South Korean Army leads at US sniper competition
The South Korean Army's sniper team came out on top of all international participants, excluding the US, at the 2025 International Sniper Competition, South Korean Army officials said Wednesday. The event, hosted by the US Army and held from April 4-10 at the US Army Sniper School at Fort Moore, Georgia, had 35 teams competing from 9 countries, including the United States, Germany, Brazil, and the United Kingdom. Representing South Korea, the only Asian nation invited to the annual competition f
April 23, 2025 -
Arms agency hold talks on Surion helicopter exports to Iraq during arms fair
South Korea's arms procurement agency said Wednesday it has taken part in a defense exhibition in Iraq and held talks with Iraqi military officials over exports of the South's Surion helicopters. Officials from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration visited the Middle Eastern country for the International Defense Exhibition from Saturday through Tuesday to promote South Korean weapons systems, according to the agency. In a meeting with Iraq's Defense Minister Thabet Mohammed Al-Abbasi, D
April 23, 2025 -
Seoul launches 4th spy satellite to boost NK surveillance
South Korea’s military launched its fourth domestically developed spy satellite on Tuesday, advancing efforts to build a constellation of reconnaissance satellites aimed at enhancing the nation’s capability to monitor North Korea and detect signs of potential provocations in real time. The satellite lifted off at 9:48 a.m. from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a Falcon 9 rocket operated by US space company SpaceX. It successfully separated from the launch vehicle approximatel
April 22, 2025 -
Two Chinese nationals caught filming near US military base in Pyeongtaek
Two Chinese nationals were caught filming near a US military facility in Pyeongtaek on Monday, a month after two other Chinese citizens were found photographing aircraft near an air base in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. The security investigation division of the Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency said it booked the two without detention on suspicion of violating the Military Facility Protection Act. The suspects took unauthorized photographs near Osan Air Base, also known as K-55, around 9 a.m.
April 22, 2025 -
Pilot mistook jettison button for heating in KA-1 incident: Air Force
A South Korean Air Force pilot mistakenly pressed the emergency jettison button while attempting to adjust the heating in a KA-1 light attack aircraft that accidentally dropped its weapons and fuel tanks last week, authorities said Monday. The Air Force said the pilot was attempting to adjust an air vent that was disrupting his vision when the incident occurred at 8:22 p.m. on Friday over Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, during a nighttime mock firing exercise. The vent and emergency jettison butt
April 21, 2025 -
S. Korea to launch 4th military spy satellite this week
South Korea plans to launch its fourth military reconnaissance satellite from a US space base this week, the defense ministry said Monday, as the country seeks to better monitor North Korean threats with independent surveillance capabilities. The military plans to launch the synthetic aperture radar satellite aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 8:48 p.m. on Monday, according to the ministry. The launch will be part of South Korea's plan to deploy
April 21, 2025