New senior post in charge of AI created at Defense Ministry SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - A deputy minister-level post in charge of artificial intelligence (AI)-related affairs has been created within the Ministry of Defense to accelerate the military's technological modernization. Approved at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday and set to take effect later this week, the new post will spearhead the military's adoption of cutting-edge technologies while overseeing key areas where AI is needed, including logistics, information, and the procurement of military assets. Won Jong-dae, who currently manages the military's resource management, is set to assume the new role. The restructuring plan also includes the appointment of civilian experts to a military adviser post, which was usually held by an active-duty general. The ministry said the military's move toward an AI-driven, high-tech force will help South Korea achieve its goal of becoming one of the world’s top three AI powers in the defense sector. 2025-12-30 16:21:56

South Korea's An Mu submarine completes long-range Guam mission without any failure SEOUL, December 30 (AJP) - The South Korean Navy said on Tuesday that its An Mu submarine has completed a roughly 7,000-kilometer round-trip blue-water deployment and overseas training mission without a single equipment failure. The 3,000-ton An Mu, part of the KSS-III program, returned to Jinhae Naval Port after taking part in the South Korea–U.S. combined anti-submarine exercise “2025 Silent Shark.” The Navy held a welcome ceremony on Tuesday, hosted by Rear Adm. Kim Tae-hoon, acting commander of the Navy Submarine Command. The submarine departed Jinhae in early November and arrived in Guam on Nov. 17. It trained with U.S. forces for about a month in waters near Guam, conducting submarine tracking and attack drills, free-play engagements and airborne anti-submarine warfare exercises aimed at improving combined operational capability and interoperability. An Mu’s commander, Col. Ahn Geon-young, said the deployment demonstrated the submarine’s long-range sailing capability and stable performance in high-temperature tropical waters. Ahn said the visit showcased South Korea’s submarine operating capability, including system integration that allows crews to focus on missions, improved onboard living conditions and high equipment reliability. Canada is pursuing the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project to acquire up to 12 diesel-powered submarines to replace its four Victoria-class boats, which are due to retire in the mid-2030s. A consortium of Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has proposed Hanwha Ocean’s 3,000-ton Jangbogo-III Batch-II diesel-powered submarine for the project and has been shortlisted alongside Germany’s thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, the Navy said. 2025-12-30 10:59:11

South Korea, US complete all joint drills postponed from last summer SEOUL, December 29 (AJP) - The military has carried out all 22 joint field training with the U.S. that were rescheduled after being postponed in August, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said on Monday. Those drills were among about 40 exercises that are part of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise, aimed at maintaining a combined defense posture, including combined tactical airborne training, rescue operations, equipment maintenance, and live-fire drills. According to the JCS, two of the drills were conducted solely by South Korea. The military postponed the drills earlier in the summer, citing extreme heat and other factors. 2025-12-29 14:17:47

North Korea spurs rural development ahead of key party congress SEOUL, December 24 (AJP) - North Korea has been holding a series of opening ceremonies for new factories in provincial areas, state media reported Wednesday. According to the state-run northern mountainous areas of Kilju," adding that projects to develop provincial areas would be further expanded. North Korea has already held a slew of similar events in recent weeks including those in North and South Hwanghae Provinces and Kangwon Province. These development projects, along with the recent grand openings of new hotels near Mt. Paektu, are part of the North's ambitious plans to narrow gaps between the modernized capital of Pyongyang and rural areas within 10 years, in an apparent effort to promote year-end achievements ahead of the country's key party congress scheduled for early next year. 2025-12-24 10:20:14

US nuclear-powered submarine docks in Busan to replenish supplies SEOUL, December 23 (AJP) - The USS Greenville arrived on Tuesday in South Korea's southern port city of Busan to replenish supplies and provide rest for crew members. The Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine Greeneville, named after Greeneville, Tennessee, will engage in activities to strengthen cooperation between the two allies, according to the South Korean Navy. The submarine, which is 110 meters long and 10 meters wide, is equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from approximately 12 vertical launching systems (VLS), as well as torpedoes fired from four launch tubes. The USS Greenville last docked in Busan in 2016, with the latest visit marking its fourth trip to South Korea. Its arrival comes about 10 months after the USS Alexandria visited the same naval base for similar activities in February. 2025-12-23 11:15:16

Frontline units told to assume border farther south to avoid clashes SEOUL, December 22 (AJP) - The South Korean military has internally instructed frontline units to consider the more southerly boundary when the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) along the inter-Korean border overlaps or is unclear, to avoid accidental clashes with North Korea. During a regular press briefing at the Ministry of Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff spokesperson Lee Sung-joon said the military prioritizes MDL markers set up in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and conducts comprehensive assessments in areas where such markers are unavailable, in response to North Korean incursions across the MDL, whether accidental or intentional. South Korea has responded to such violations by firing warning shots. The MDL is the ceasefire line drawn by the armistice signed on July 27, 1953. Of the roughly 1,292 markers installed at that time, only about 200 remain in place. Over time, South Korea marked the MDL on its military maps based on these markers. The UN Command also produced its own maps, resulting in differences that can reach tens of meters in some areas. North Korea has continued to violate the MDL since April last year, after beginning large-scale work near the DMZ, including mine removal and land development. North Korean soldiers have crossed the MDL 16 times since March, with 10 of those cases occurring last month. 2025-12-22 14:46:15

Propaganda leaflets floated to North Korea months before martial law fiasco, Defense Ministry reveals SEOUL, December 17 (AJP) - South Korea floated propaganda leaflets into North Korea at least 23 times under the former Yoon Suk Yeol administration, the Ministry of Defense said Wednesday. According to the ministry's recent internal investigation, the leaflet drops, halted in July 2017 under Yoon's predecessor, resumed from February to November last year after a decision was made at a security meeting in October 2023, attended by then-Defense Minister Shin Won-sik, then-Unification Minister Kim Young-ho, and then-National Intelligence Service Director Kim Kyu-hyun. Specific reasons for the resumption remain undisclosed, as the meeting records are classified as presidential documents. Whether it was a calculated move to provoke the North or not, leaflets targeting around 35 locations in North Korea including Pyongyang and Wonsan, were floated for about a year just before Yoon's botched Dec. 3 declaration of martial law. In response, North Korea launched its bizarre campaign of seeing trash-filled balloons toward the South about 32 times from May to November last year. The latest revelation comes after independent prosecutors wrapped up their investigation earlier this week, concluding that Yoon prepared for his martial law fiasco as early as October 2023, more than a year before. 2025-12-17 16:05:26

South Korea deploys new tactical missiles capable of countering North Korean long-range artillery SEOUL, December 16 (AJP) - South Korea's new tactical surface-to-surface missiles have been deployed and are combat-ready, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said on Tuesday. The missiles, known as KTSSM, are a crucial part of the country's defense strategy designed to precisely counter North Korean artillery and strike command facilities including underground bunkers in the event of conflict. A ceremony marking the deployment was held at a military command in Wonju, Gangwon Province, with officials from DAPA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff in attendance. Also called "Thunder" or "artillery killer," the homegrown precision-guided missiles are capable of destroying an enemy's long-range artillery positions. DAPA also announced plans to complete the development of an improved version with enhanced range and penetration capabilities by 2027. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-16 17:13:20

Tiffany and Byun Yo-han make latest K-pop superstar couple SEOUL, December 13 (AJP) - Korean-American singer-actress Tiffany Young may become the first member of 18-year-old K-pop girl group, to get married after actor Byun Yo-han confirmed the two were dating with marriage in mind. Byun’s agency, Team Hope, said Monday that “the two actors are currently dating with marriage in mind.” While no wedding date has been finalized, the agency added that the couple wishes to share the news with fans first once plans are decided. “We ask for your warm support and blessings for their future together,” the agency said. The confirmation follows earlier media reports suggesting the couple may be planning a wedding as early as next year. Team Hope clarified that there is no fixed schedule at this stage. The two are believed to have grown close while working together on Disney+’s Korean original series Uncle Samsik, which was released last year. Their professional collaboration reportedly developed into a private romantic relationship. Byun, born in 1986, made his acting debut in 2011 and has since established himself as one of Korea’s most respected character actors. His notable works include the hit drama Misaeng (2014), the historical series Mr. Sunshine (2018), and films such as The Book of Fish (2021), Voice (2021), and Hansan: Rising Dragon. Tiffany Young, born in 1989, debuted in 2007 as a member of Girls’ Generation, one of K-pop’s most influential girl groups. After ending her contract with SM Entertainment in 2017, she expanded her career into acting, appearing in dramas such as Reborn Rich (2022) and Uncle Samsik (2024), while also earning acclaim in musical theater, including her role in Chicago. If the marriage goes ahead, Tiffany would become the first member of Girls’ Generation to marry, marking a significant milestone for the group, which has had no married members throughout its 18-year history. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-13 12:01:49

South Korea lodges protests against China, Russia over aircraft incursions SEOUL, December 10 (AJP) - The Ministry of National Defense on Wednesday lodged a strong protest with China and Russia after their military aircraft buzzed South Korea's air defense identification zone (KADIZ) the previous day. The ministry said it protested through a phone call to the defense attachés of China and Russia and vowed, "We will actively respond to any flybys in KADIZ in line with international law." The protest comes just a day after two Chinese and seven Russian aircraft entered the KADIZ at around 10 a.m. the previous day and left about an hour later. They were bombers and fighter jets involved in the two big powers' regular military maneuvers in the region. The air defense identification zone does not constitute territorial airspace but is established in order to identify air traffic. It is common protocol for aircraft to obtain prior permission before entering another country's air defense identification zone. But Russia does not recognize South Korea's KADIZ, citing a lack of international legal basis. The KADIZ over the submerged shelf of Ieodo overlaps with the airspaces of both South Korea and China. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-12-10 15:19:43