-
North Korea warns US and South Korea will 'pay dearly' for joint military exercise
North Korea condemned an upcoming US-South Korea joint military exercise Friday, saying that "counteraction is inevitable" and warning that the allies would "pay dearly." The threat came one day after the United States and South Korea announced that their annual springtime Freedom Shield exercise would run from Monday through March 20, involving computer-simulated drills and on-field training. Freedom Shield will reflect "realistic threats, lessons learned from recent armed conflicts and evolvin
March 7, 2025 -
Allies halt live-fire drills after Korean jets accidentally bomb village
The South Korean military has suspended all live-fire drills in its annual joint exercises with the United States after two KF-16 fighter jets accidentally bombed a civilian area during a training exercise the previous day. US Forces Korea also confirmed in a statement released Friday that no US Air Force aircraft were involved in the drill. However, USFK said it will pause live-fire drills that were supposed to be conducted as part of Freedom Shield 25, while the planned command post exercises
March 7, 2025 -
Accidental fighter jet bombing leaves 29 injured, including 15 civilians: defense ministry
The defense ministry said Friday a total of 29 people, including 15 civilians, have been injured from an accidental fighter jet bombing of a northern village earlier this week. On Thursday, two KF-16 fighter jets "abnormally" dropped eight MK-82 bombs outside a training range in Pocheon, some 40 kilometers north of Seoul, leading to multiple injuries and damage to buildings. As of Friday morning, 15 civilians and 14 service members had been injured from the bombing, including two civilians who w
March 7, 2025 -
USFK to pause all live-fire drills after S. Korean fighter jets mistakenly bomb village
The US Forces Korea said Friday it has agreed to pause all live-fire training after South Korean fighter jets mistakenly bombed a village during joint live-fire drills earlier this week. On Thursday, two KF-16 fighter jets "abnormally" released eight MK-82 bombs outside a training range in Pocheon, some 40 kilometers north of Seoul, during the drills, leaving 15 people injured and damaging eight buildings, according to military and rescue officials. "The US and ROK militaries have agreed to paus
March 7, 2025 -
Two South Korean Air Force jets mistakenly bomb border village; at least 15 injured
Pilot erred by entering coordinates of wrong strike target, Air Force official says Two South Korean fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs on a village near the inter-Korean border during a live-fire drill Thursday morning, injuring at least 15 people and damaging several buildings. Two people were seriously injured, while 13 sustained minor injuries, according to fire authorities at around 2 p.m. Of the 13, 10 people were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. One person, 60, w
March 6, 2025 -
South Korean FM says no rewards for North Korea in peace talks, pledges aid for Ukraine
South Korea, Poland vow united stance on North Korea, Ukraine war, defense cooperation South Korea’s top diplomat stressed that North Korea must not be compensated for its illicit support of Russia’s war efforts in negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, while also pledging Seoul’s continued humanitarian and financial assistance to Kyiv. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul reaffirmed this stance during his meeting with his Polish counterpart, Radoslaw Sikorski, on Wednesday in Polish capit
March 6, 2025 -
S. Korea, US to hold 1st Freedom Shield drill since Trump's return
South Korea and the United States will conduct their annual Freedom Shield combined military exercise, a large-scale drill aimed at strengthening the allies' readiness and deterrence capabilities, from Monday to March 21, military authorities announced Thursday. According to South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, this year’s Freedom Shield exercise will incorporate realistic threat scenarios reflecting North Korea’s recent military tactics and strategic shifts, including its growing partnership wi
March 6, 2025 -
S. Korean fighter jet accidentally drops bombs on civilian village, injuring seven
A fighter jet accidentally dropped multiple bombs on a civilian village in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday, injuring seven people and damaging several buildings. The South Korean Air Force confirmed that during a live-fire drill conducted as part of the Freedom Shield Exercise 2025, the annual military exercise between the South Korean and US militaries, a KF-16 fighter jet mistakenly released eight MK-82 bombs outside the designated firing range near the Seungjin Training Ground in Poch
March 6, 2025 -
S. Korea, US stage combined firepower drills near inter-Korean border
South Korea and the United States on Thursday held combined live-fire drills near the inter-Korean border, officials said, in a show of firepower against North Korean military threats ahead of their annual springtime exercise this month. The exercise took place at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, just 25 kilometers south of the border, mobilizing more than 160 pieces of military hardware, including K2 tanks, K55A1 self-propelled howitzers, Apache attack helicopters and F-35A stealth
March 6, 2025 -
S. Korea, Australia discuss enhanced military cooperation
Acting South Korean Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho and Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles on Wednesday discussed ways to enhance military cooperation, including collaboration in the defense industry, according to South Korea’s Defense Ministry. During the conversation, Kim highlighted the significant progress in military and defense industry cooperation between the two nations and reaffirmed Seoul’s commitment to further strengthening ties through joint exercises
March 5, 2025 -
South Korea warns North Korea against provocation
South Korea's Defense Ministry on Tuesday urged North Korea to abandon its fixation on nuclear weapons development in response to Pyongyang’s criticism of the recent deployment of the USS Carl Vinson, a US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, to the Korean Peninsula. “North Korea’s nuclear ambitions will never be tolerated. The only path to survival for the regime is to abandon its delusions and obsession with nuclear weapons,” the ministry said in a press statement. Earlier in the day, Kim Yo-jong
March 4, 2025 -
Marine Corps take part in major multinational drills in Thailand
South Korean Marines have joined a major US-led multinational exercise in Thailand as part of efforts to enhance their coordination with forces from other countries, officials said Tuesday. The annual Cobra Gold exercise kicked off last Tuesday for an 11-day run, involving more than 200 South Korean Marines and various military hardware, including K-55 self-propelled howitzers, according to the Marine Corps. Alongside US, Thai, Indonesian, Japanese, Malaysian and Singaporean forces, South Korean
March 4, 2025 -
S. Korea joins US-led multinational anti-submarine drills in Guam
South Korea will join a US-led multinational anti-submarine warfare exercise in waters off Guam on Tuesday as part of efforts to bolster capabilities against underwater threats, the Navy said. A P-3 maritime patrol aircraft and some 40 personnel will be mobilized for the annual Sea Dragon exercise set to begin later in the day through March 14, alongside US, Japanese, Australian and Indian troops, according to the Navy. During the exercise, troops will conduct various drills, such as tracking si
March 4, 2025 -
Presence of US aircraft carrier in S. Korea demonstrates strengthening alliance: US admiral
The presence of a US aircraft carrier in South Korea this week highlights the strengthening bilateral alliance, a US admiral said Monday, a day after its arrival in Busan. Rear Adm. Michael Wosje, commander of Carrier Strike Group 1, made the remark in a press conference aboard the USS Carl Vinson at a major naval base in Busan. The visit marks the first time a US aircraft carrier has docked in the country since US President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20. When asked whether ongoing trilate
March 3, 2025 -
USS Carl Vinson arrives in S. Korea in show of force
The USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier arrived at a key naval base in the southeastern city of Busan on Sunday, South Korea's Navy said, reaffirming the US commitment to extended deterrence against continued North Korean threats. The nuclear-powered vessel of Carrier Strike Group 1 entered the naval base in Busan, about 320 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in what marked the first such visit by a US aircraft carrier to South Korea since US President Donald Trump's return to the White House in Januar
March 2, 2025