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As China, Russia escalate cognitive warfare, experts say Seoul needs counterstrategy
As China and Russia ramp up sophisticated cognitive warfare targeting the Korean Peninsula, experts at a Seoul forum urged the South Korean government to craft a counterstrategy grounded in objective, professional assessments of both countries’ capabilities. The Korean Association of Area Studies co-hosted the seminar themed, “Security Threats of Cognitive Warfare and Trump’s Second-term Strategy on China,” on Friday with the Institute for National Security Strategy and the Sejong Institute at t
May 2, 2025 -
S. Korea, US hold 1st joint tabletop exercise against space threats
South Korea and the United States conducted a combined tabletop exercise against space-based threats earlier this week, the South's military said Friday, amid growing space security threats by North Korea. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and the US Space Forces Korea held the discussion-based Polaris Lynx exercise for the first time on Thursday, joined by military officials and space security experts, according to the JCS. Officials from the US Forces Korea and the South's Agency for Defense
May 2, 2025 -
Army stages live-fire air defense drills near inter-Korean border
South Korean soldiers conducted live-fire air defense drills near the inter-Korean border this week as part of efforts to maintain readiness against North Korean drone threats, the Army said Friday. The three-day exercise began Wednesday in a coastal area in the border county of Goseong, about 160 kilometers northeast of Seoul, involving some 130 troops and eight anti-aircraft vehicles, including the K30 Biho and the K30W Chunho, according to the Army. The drills took place with a focus on detec
May 2, 2025 -
Acting president urges watertight readiness posture against N. Korea-Russia military ties
Acting President Han Duck-soo on Thursday called on security-related ministers to maintain a watertight readiness posture against strengthening military ties between North Korea and Russia, saying there must be "no compromise" when it comes to national security. Han also instructed ministers to keep a vigilant defense posture and "leave no gaps" in protecting the lives and property of the people, amid growing speculation that he may soon resign before announcing his bid for the June 3 presidenti
May 1, 2025 -
Navy holds maritime defense drills in waters off western, southern coasts
The Navy said Thursday it conducted maritime drills in waters off the western and southern coasts earlier this week as part of efforts to maintain defense readiness. The four-day exercise designed to train against North Korean maritime threats began Monday, mobilizing some 20 surface ships and about a dozen aircraft from the Second and Third Fleets, according to the Navy. The Second Fleet, in charge of defending the Yellow Sea, deployed the 3,100-ton ROKS Seoul frigate among other warships for t
May 1, 2025 -
US Navy secretary visits HD Hyundai Heavy, Hanwha Ocean to explore shipbuilding cooperation
US Secretary of the Navy John Phelan visited South Korea's leading shipbuilders, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. and Hanwha Ocean Co., Wednesday, as Washington seeks to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the sector under President Donald Trump. Phelan, on a two-nation Asia trip also involving Japan, visited HD Hyundai Heavy's headquarters in Ulsan, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, and toured a yard where next-generation Aegis destroyers are being built. He then held talks with HD Hyundai
April 30, 2025 -
Military to inspect Air Force over lax discipline following pilot error-caused accidents
The military will conduct an inspection of the Air Force over its operational discipline and readiness posture this week, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Tuesday, following an accidental bombing of a civilian town and a mistaken release of gun pods from an aircraft. The on-site inspection will begin later in the day, the JCS said in a notice to reporters, without providing further details. A JCS official said the inspection of Air Force fighter wings is set to run through Friday and may be extend
April 29, 2025 -
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