Military helicopter crashes in Gapyeong, killing two crew members SEOUL, February 9 (AJP) - A military helicopter crashed in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province on Monday, killing two crew members, according to military authorities. The South Korean Army said the AH-1S Cobra went down at about 11:04 a.m. during training, which involved practicing emergency landings in conditions similar to an abnormal situation without shutting down the engine. The exact reasons for the crash were not immediately known. Two officers on board were rushed to a hospital immediately after the crash but were pronounced dead. The Army said it has grounded all AH-1S Cobras and is conducting an investigation to determine the cause. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu Baek, who is visiting Saudi Arabia, instructed the Army to ensure "swift and thorough recovery and follow-up measures," the ministry said. 2026-02-09 13:49:41

South Korea, Saudi Arabia agree to expand defense cooperation SEOUL, February 9 (AJP) - South Korea has agreed to strengthen cooperation with Saudi Arabia in the areas of security and defense, the Ministry of Defense said on Monday. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back met his Saudi counterpart Khalid bin Salman Al Saud in Riyadh over the weekend, where they signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to expand biliteral cooperation. They said the MOU would establish a joint framework covering research and development, defense technology, and systems innovation, laying the groundwork for a forward-looking strategic partnership. Khalid said South Korea's technology and experience could help bolster Saudi Arabia's defense capabilities. Later in the day, Ahn attended a defense expo, stopping at booths run by South Korean defense companies to hear their views on arms exports. Now in its third year, the Saudi World Defense Show is one of the world's largest defense exhibitions. It kicked off on Sunday and runs through Thursday, with about 700 companies from 80 countries participating. 2026-02-09 09:21:09

Is dialogue in the offing as UN exempts North Korean aid from sanctions? SEOUL, February 6 (AJP) - The U.N. Security Council (UNSC) has decided to exempt a slew of humanitarian aid projects to North Korea from sanctions, multiple diplomatic sources said on Friday. Some 17 such projects, which had been on hold at the UNSC's sanctions committee on North Korea for about a year, were granted exemptions in a unanimous decision on Thursday, which some analysts interpret as Washington extending an olive branch to Pyongyang. The projects, which sought extensions for their previously granted exemptions, include five led by South Korea, four by foreign institutions including U.S.-based private organizations and eight by international bodies such as the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. With the looming possibility of talks between Washington and Pyongyang, pundits are speculating that U.S. President Donald Trump may seek dialogue with North Korea, coinciding with his upcoming trip to China in April. The exemption comes after a senior South Korean government official reportedly told reporters in Washington the same day, "There will be some new progress in the offing within a few days." But it remains to be seen whether it will bring North Korea to the dialogue table, as the isolated country has been refusing any assistance not only from South Korea but also from international organizations. 2026-02-06 17:36:45

South Korea in talks with UNC for more access to DMZ SEOUL, February 6 (AJP) - South Korea is in close consultations with the U.N. Command (UNC) on ways to effectively manage the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the Ministry of Defense said on Friday. The development comes as South Korea reportedly proposed managing the southern side of the heavily fortified zone, which extends 2 kilometers south of the demarcation line separating the two Koreas. South Korea is seeking civilian access to more areas on the southern side of the front line, which have been under the UNC's jurisdiction since the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War. But the UNC apparently opposed the proposal, saying it could make it difficult to maintain peace and stability in the buffer zone. South Korea currently have to obtain permission from the UNC whenever it needs to bring in heavy equipment for construction work, while some tourism projects remain halted. The ministry said it has been holding working-level talks with the UNC to manage the areas more efficiently since Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-baek assumed his post in July last year. 2026-02-06 14:37:04

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