Allies launch dual exercises amid N. Korea's rare twin threats

South Korea will launch two simultaneous military exercises on Monday: Freedom Edge, a trilateral outdoor multi-domain drill with the US and Japan, and Iron Mace, a nuclear-attack response planning tabletop exercise with the US. North Korea denounced the defensive exercises — which aim to enhance interoperability and sharpen readiness against North Korea’s mounting missile and nuclear threats — with concurrent press statements from two high-profile officials. Both exercises will be held for the

Sept. 14, 2025

At least 10 injured in explosion at Paju military base

At least 10 people were injured Wednesday in an explosion at a military base in the northern border city of Paju, the Republic of Korea Army said, with authorities saying the blast was caused by the detonation of an explosive device used in a simulation. According to military authorities, the blast took place around 3:29 p.m. at an artillery unit in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. At least 10 soldiers were injured in the incident, with two reported to be in serious condition. Several sustained burns to

Sept. 10, 2025

Defense chief pledges both strong deterrence against, dialogue with N. Korea

South Korea’s Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Tuesday that his country will consistently pursue a “two-track approach” of strong deterrence and efforts at reviving dialogue by building cross-border trust with North Korea, as Pyongyang’s advancing nuclear and missile programs deepen regional security risks. In his opening speech at the annual 2025 Seoul Defense Dialogue held in Seoul, Ahn warned that the accelerating development of North Korea’s arsenal represents not only a threat to stabilit

Sept. 9, 2025

S. Korea, Japan defense chiefs pledge closer communication, eye cooperation in AI

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Japanese Minister Gen Nakatani met in Seoul on Monday, where they pledged to strengthen security cooperation and communication, as well as partnership in advanced science fields. The meeting, held on the sidelines of the 2025 Seoul Defense Dialogue at the Defense Ministry headquarters in Yongsan, marked the first visit to South Korea by a Japanese defense minister in a decade. In a joint press statement, both sides welcomed the timing of Monday’s me

Sept. 8, 2025

S. Korea, US, Japan to hold trilateral Freedom Edge exercise this month

South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold their trilateral multi-domain Freedom Edge exercise this month, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff said Friday, in their continued efforts to deepen security cooperation against North Korea's military threats. The five-day exercise will take place in international waters east and south of South Korea's southern island of Jeju from Sept. 15-19, the JCS said. "The three countries will bolster their multi-domain operational capabilities in areas inc

Sept. 5, 2025

S. Korean military to boost unmanned capabilities by training 500,000 ‘drone warriors’

South Korea’s Defense Ministry on Thursday announced an ambitious initiative to cultivate half a million troops proficient in drone operations, underscoring the growing role of unmanned systems in modern warfare and the country’s drive to foster a domestic drone industry. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back unveiled the plan at the Republic of Korea Army’s 36th Infantry Division base in Wonju, Gangwon Province, designating the unit as the military’s first dedicated training ground for drone operations

Sept. 4, 2025

S. Korea aims to bolster three-axis deterrence system with defense budget hike

South Korea aims to strengthen its three-axis deterrence system against North Korean threats and build a cutting-edge combat system with an 8.2 percent hike in the defense budget proposal for next year, the defense ministry said Wednesday. Under the proposal submitted to the National Assembly the previous day, the ministry sought a budget of 66.3 trillion won ($47.6 billion) for next year. It marked the biggest on-year expansion in seven years since an 8.2 percent increase in 2019. The increased

Sept. 3, 2025

Lee replaces all 4-star generals in sweeping reshuffle

The Defense Ministry on Monday announced seven new nominees, replacing all active four-star generals in the first top-level military reshuffle under the Lee Jae Myung administration. The overhaul reflects President Lee’s push to reform military leadership. In July, he appointed Rep. Ahn Gyu-back of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea as defense minister — the first civilian to hold the post in 64 years. The list includes new chiefs for the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army, Navy and Air Force, as wel

Sept. 1, 2025

S. Korea suspends North-targeted radio for 1st time in 15 years

South Korea suspended the Voice of Freedom, a military-run radio broadcast targeting North Korea, on Monday, as part of the Lee Jae Myung administration’s efforts to ease inter-Korean tensions. “The Voice of Freedom broadcast has been suspended as part of measures to reduce military tensions between the South and the North,” the Defense Ministry said in a text message to reporters at around 9 a.m. Monday. The final broadcast reportedly aired at 10 p.m. Sunday. The Voice of Freedom, produced and

Sept. 1, 2025

Defense ministry holds some 10 people accountable for unauthorized entry into Japan airspace

The defense ministry said Sunday it has warned or sought disciplinary action against some 10 people involved in a military transport plane's unauthorized entry into Japan's air defense identification zone last month. On July 13, a C-130 aircraft en route to Guam for a military exercise was forced to take a longer route due to failure to win prior permission from Japan to enter its airspace. The aircraft's pilot, worried about a shortage of fuel, made an emergency landing at Kadena Air Base in Ok

Aug. 31, 2025

Defense Ministry seeks biggest budget hike in 7 years

South Korea’s Defense Ministry on Friday proposed a 2026 defense budget of 66.3 trillion won ($48 billion), the largest annual increase in seven years, amid mounting US pressure for Seoul to boost its military spending. Next year’s defense budget is 8.2 percent, or 5.05 trillion won, higher than this year’s 61.59 trillion won, according to the government budget proposal. It focuses on funding advanced weapons acquisitions and boosting salaries for junior officers. A Defense Ministry official not

Aug. 29, 2025

S. Korea, US conclude key summertime joint drills amid N. Korean threats

South Korea and the United States wrapped up their major joint drills Thursday to bolster the combined readiness posture, amid North Korea's repeated criticism of the annual exercise it calls a rehearsal for war. The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which also involved a four-day civil defense exercise on the Korean side, drew to an end after an 11-day run in the face of North Korea's evolving nuclear missile threats and deepening military alignment with Russia. "The US and the Republic of Korea t

Aug. 28, 2025

Fact check: Can US get land ownership of military base as Trump requested?

A debate has sparked over remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting the US should claim "ownership" of land in South Korea used by the American military forces. "Maybe one of the things I'd like to do is ask them to give us ownership of the land while we have the big fort. You know we spent a lot of money building a fort, and there was a contribution made by South Korea," Trump said during his first in-person meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung in Washington on Monday. "But I

Aug. 26, 2025

Lee vows to increase defense spending, modernize alliance with US

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday pledged to boost defense spending, vowing a more proactive role for Seoul in its alliance with the United States in President Donald Trump's second term. In a speech at the Statesmen’s Forum hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, Lee said his administration would build a "smart, elite military" to address 21st-century security challenges, stressing that Korea’s defense commitment to the alliance would remain iro

Aug. 26, 2025

Defense minister says US consistent in message on no USFK drawdown

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back said Monday the United States has made its position clear, at both the congressional and government levels, that there will be no drawdown of US troops stationed in South Korea. Ahn made the remarks in a parliamentary session, amid speculation that Washington could make official a plan to adjust the role and size of the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea (USFK), as President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump are set to hold their first summit talks Monday (US t

Aug. 25, 2025