Defense officials from Seoul and Beijing meet for first working-level talks in four years SEOUL, February 5 (AJP) - Defense officials from South Korea and China held working-level talks in Beijing on Thursday, their first such meeting in about four years. According to the Ministry of Defense, the South Korean delegation led by Lee Gwang-seok, in charge of the ministry's international policy met with his Chinese counterpart Guo Hongtao. First launched in 1995, the meeting was held for the first time since the last one, which was via Zoom in June 2022. The two sides agreed to hold close consultations to revive strategic dialogue channels and expand bilateral cooperation. They also discussed ways to resume joint search-and-rescue drills in the West Sea. The ministry said it expects the meeting to "lay the groundwork for building trust" between the two countries. 2026-02-05 17:55:41

South Korean destroyer heads to India for fleet review, naval exercise SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - A 4,400-ton destroyer will take part in an international fleet review to be held in India next month, the Navy said on Friday. The destroyer dubbed Gang Gam-chan departed from a naval base in Jeju on Friday, weeks ahead of the fleet review scheduled for Feb. 17-19 in the coastal city of Visakhapatnam, which will feature warships from 20 countries including Australia, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. A week later, the vessel will also participate in various maritime drills as part of the multinational naval exercise "Milan," now in its 13th year since its launch in 1995. South Korea first joined with a 1,200-ton frigate in 2022, and this will be its second participation. Meanwhile, Rear Adm. Kim Gyeong-cheol will attend this year's Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) slated for Feb. 20 as an observer. The biennial meeting brings together littoral states of the Indian Ocean region, and this will mark South Korea's first participation. 2026-01-30 14:14:49

Former justice minister named special ambassador for climate SEOUL, January 30 (AJP) - Former Justice Minister Kang Kum-sil has been named South Korea's special ambassador for climate and environment, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday. She will take up the one-year ambassadorial role to tackle climate and environmental issues while promoting the government's efforts. Having served as the country's first female justice minister under the late Roh Moo-hyun administration, Kang also led the Democratic Party's (DP) election campaign for last year's presidential election. According to the ministry, Kang, in her new role, will promote the country's climate and environment-related policies at various domestic and international events and conferences. 2026-01-30 10:57:00

U.N. Command Says South Korea’s Proposed DMZ Law Violates Armistice The U.N. Command said a ruling party-backed bill on the “peaceful use” of the Demilitarized Zone conflicts with the Korean War armistice. A U.N. Command official told reporters on Tuesday afternoon at the Dragon Hill Lodge Hotel on the Yongsan base that if the DMZ bill passes, it would “directly violate” the armistice and would be tantamount to the South Korean government declaring it is not subject to the agreement. The official said jurisdiction over the DMZ south of the Military Demarcation Line rests entirely with the U.N. Command. The bill would allow the South Korean government to exercise authority over access to the DMZ for nonmilitary, peaceful purposes. The Ministry of Unification has backed the legislation, linking it to “territorial sovereignty.” The U.N. Command reiterated its long-held position that the U.N. commander is responsible not only for military matters in the DMZ but also for civil administration and relief projects. The command also argued that the armistice preamble’s statement that the provisions are “purely military in character” is meant to underscore that the armistice is not a peace treaty. Unification Minister Jeong Dong Young, responding to questions at the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, said, “What the U.N. Command said is the U.N. Command’s position, and the National Assembly’s enactment of a law is the legislature’s exclusive legislative authority.” Separately, the U.N. Command explained why it once denied a DMZ entry request by Kim Hyun Jong, first deputy director of the National Security Office. Kim later received approval and visited the DMZ. The U.N. Command official said it received Kim’s application in late November, around the time a South Korean officer was injured in an explosion inside the DMZ. The official said the command had reports that new unexploded ordnance, mines and various shells were being found daily at Baekma Hill, and it suggested Kim visit another location for safety reasons. * This article has been translated by AI. 2026-01-28 17:51:00

North Korea fires projectiles toward East Sea SEOUL, January 27 (AJP) - North Korea fired what is believed to be ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Tuesday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected "unidentified projectiles" launched by North Korea later in the day but did not provide further details. The JCS is currently analyzing them. The North's provocation came about a month after it ushered in the New Year with a missile launch on Jan. 4. as South President Lee Jae Myung was set to leave for Beijing for talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Tuesday's launch was the fourth such provocation since Lee took office in June last year and the second this year. 2026-01-27 17:06:36

Senior US defense official to visit Seoul next week SEOUL, January 23 (AJP) - A high-ranking U.S. defense official is expected to visit Seoul next week. Elbridge Colby, the under Secretary of defense for policy, is scheduled to meet with South Korean foreign and defense officials here from Jan. 25 to 27 as part of his Asia trip, which will also include a stop in Japan. The close aide to U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to outline the White House's new security strategy, announced early last month, which urges allies to increase defense spending with a focus on ensuring "America remains the greatest and most successful nation in human history." Key issues on the agenda are expected to include a hike in defense spending, the transfer of wartime operational control, and the development of nuclear-powered submarines. Colby is also expected to emphasize the importance of trilateral military cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. 2026-01-23 16:36:30

Black Eagles to participate in air show in Saudi Arabia next month SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - South Korea's aerobatics team will participate in an air show in Saudi Arabia next month after a refueling stopover in Japan, the Air Force said Wednesday. The team will depart Wonju next Wednesday for the International Defense Industry Exhibition, stopping in Okinawa, Japan, to refuel and hold an exchange event with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's aerobatics team Blue Impulse. Japan had abruptly refused to provide refueling support for the Black Eagles after initially agreeing to do so, raising issues over a T-50B aircraft conducting routine training near the easternmost islets of Dokdo. However, shuttle diplomacy between the two countries, revived after President Lee Jae Myung's visit earlier this month, has gained momentum, allowing the refueling in Japan to proceed as planned. After refueling in Japan, the Black Eagles will fly about 11,300 kilometers (7,020 miles) via Clark in the Philippines; Da Nang, Viet Nam; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Kolkata, Nagpur and Jamnagar, India; and Muscat, Oman, arriving Riyadh on Feb. 2. The Air Force will send approximately 120 personnel, along with nine T-50B aircraft and four C-130 transport planes. The team plans to showcase its "Mugunghwa" maneuver, inspired by South Korea's national flower, the rose of Sharon, symbolizing the country's perseverance and resilience. Col. Noh Nam-seon of the team said, "As this will be our first air show in the Middle East, we will deliver our best performance, drawing on the flight expertise and teamwork we have built over the years." 2026-01-21 17:54:23

Former Air Force chief named ambassador to Israel SEOUL, January 16 (AJP) - Park In-ho, a former Air Force chief, has been named South Korea's new ambassador to Israel, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday. The graduate of the Korea Air Force Academy, long regarded as a bastion for elite cadets, served as Air Force chief from July 2021 to May 2022 under the former Moon Jae-in administration, after holding various posts including a policy planning role at the Ministry of National Defense. Since retiring, Park has taken a role advising the Air Force while working as a professor at Hankyong National University in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. He has also advised a law firm on matters related to aerospace and defense exports. 2026-01-16 14:02:39

Home-grown KF-21 fighter jets successfully complete test flights SEOUL, January 13 (AJP) - South Korea has completed test flights of its home-grown KF-21 fighter jet, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on Tuesday. The DAPA said the fighter jet successfully underwent about 1,600 tests over the past 42 months to verify its stability and performance without a single accident, with its final flight test conducted the previous day over waters off Sacheon in South Gyeongsang Province. The tests included aerial refueling to improve their scope and efficiency, shortening the development period by two months from the original plan. The DAPA plans to begin delivering mass-produced KF-21s to the Air Force in the second half of this year to replace aging F-4 and F-5 fighters, which is expected to bolster airspace defense capabilities and enhance combat readiness. Noh Ji-man, head of the DAPA, hailed the KF-21 as the "culmination of the country's aviation technology," adding that it is capable of competing with advanced fighters in the global market. 2026-01-13 14:06:10

North Korean leader vows 'unconditional support' in letter to Putin SEOUL, January 9 (AJP) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has pledged "unconditional support" in a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, state media reported on Friday. According to the state-run and the Russian Federation, the strategic interests of the two countries," he also wrote, suggesting further strengthening of military ties between the two countries. Since KCNA described it as a reply, Putin appears to have sent a letter congratulating Kim, whose birthday was believed to be the previous day, though North Korean media disclosed no details. In October last year, Kim also sent Putin a congratulatory message for his birthday. The secretive country has never officially disclosed Kim's birth date, but it is widely thought to be Jan. 8, 1984. 2026-01-09 14:50:11