South Korea proposes military talks with North to set clear demarcation line SEOUL, November 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense has formally proposed talks with North Korea to establish a clear baseline for the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), in what would be the first military dialogue between the two sides since 2018. Kim Hong-chul, director of the ministry’s Defense Policy Office, said Monday that North Korean troops have repeatedly crossed the MDL while constructing tactical roads, laying fences and planting mines inside the Demilitarized Zone. The activity, he warned, has heightened tensions and increased the risk of unintended clashes. “This situation raises the possibility of accidental military conflict,” Kim said, urging the North to accept talks aimed at reducing tensions and preventing miscalculations. Seoul has proposed that the discussions take place through the inter-Korean liaison channel at Panmunjeom, with the timing and precise format to be arranged if Pyongyang agrees. Kim noted that the current disputes over the boundary stem from the deterioration and loss of many original MDL markers installed after the 1953 armistice, leaving both sides with differing views of the line’s exact location. A defense ministry official said the markers were placed under the supervision of the Military Armistice Commission in August 1953, but maintenance effectively ceased in 1973 after North Korean forces opened fire on UN Command personnel performing repairs. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-17 17:35:21

North Korea slams G7 statement on denuclearization SEOUL, November 14 (AJP) - North Korean on Friday denounced a recent joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) countries earlier this week. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui expressed "strong dissatisfaction and regret" over what she described as "hostile acts" by the G7 ministers in condemning the statement. The statement came on Wednesday, after the ministers wrapped up the G7 gathering in Canada, where they reaffirmed North Korea's complete denuclearization. She added, "The way of ensuring the peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific region is not the advocating of the unrealistic 'denuclearization' but the respecting of the Constitution of the ." Choe also claimed, "In the present grim geopolitical environment, the possession of nukes is the most correct option to deter the most dangerous and hostile states." * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-14 11:13:27

North Korea launches ballistic missile into East Sea SEOUL, November 7 (AJP) - North Korea launched an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea, military authorities said on Friday. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected suspicious activities at around noon, shortly before the missile was fired from North Pyongan Province. According to JCS, the missile, believed to be short-range, flew 700 kilometers before splashing into the sea near Kilju in North Hyanggyong Province. Friday's launch is the seventh this year and comes about two weeks after the previous provocation on Oct. 22, when North Korea fired several short-range missiles, just ahead of last week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju. The previous day, the North denounced the latest U.S. sanctions on eight North Korean individuals and two entities allegedly involved in cyber fraud and other illicit money-laundering schemes. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-11-07 13:46:25

Defense chiefs of South Korea, US to hold annual security talks in Seoul next week SEOUL, October 27 (AJP) - South Korean and U.S. defense chiefs will meet in Seoul next week. According to the Ministry of National Defense, Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-back will hold talks with U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for their annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in Seoul on Nov. 4. The working-level talks between the two, which will cover key military policies and security issues, mark the first such meeting since the new administrations of both countries took office earlier this year. "A wide range of topics will be discussed to strengthen the bilateral alliance in a future-oriented and mutually beneficial manner, in response to changing security environments and threats," the ministry said. These include coordination on policies toward North Korea, a combined defense posture, extended deterrence, regional security cooperation, and collaboration in the defense industry. In a press release earlier, the U.S. Department of War said Hegseth will "applaud Seoul's willingness to step up on defense spending and assume greater responsibility for the alliance's deterrence and defense," suggesting that the modernization of the bilateral alliance will be discussed including possible changes to the role of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) and adjustments to South Korea's defense spending. Discussions on the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) to Seoul are also expected to be on the agenda. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-27 10:09:44

North Korea breaks ground on memorial for troops killed in Russia SEOUL, October 24 (AJP) - North Korea has begun building a war memorial in Pyongyang to honor soldiers who were dispatched to assist Russia's war in Ukraine and died there, state media reported Friday. According to the KCNA, a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the memorial took place the previous day with its leader Kim Jong-un in attendance, along with Russian Ambassador to North Korea Aleksandr Matsegora and other embassy officials. In his speech, Kim said, "Pyongyang will always be with Moscow. Our friendship and unity will last forever," hailing the memorial as a "symbol of the most righteous people and the strongest army." "Just one year ago from today the last group of the combatants of our expeditionary forces left for Russia. They, strongly feeling the weight of their heavy mission, made a forceful march towards the battlefield in the alien land," he added. This is the first time North Korea has built a museum commemorating troops deployed overseas, following a decision made in May. North Korea is believed to have sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia in exchange for economic aid and military technology from Moscow. At least 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in Russia's Kursk region near the Ukrainian border, according to estimates by South Korea's spy agency in September. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-24 14:34:26

JCS chief inspects security and military readiness ahead of next week's APEC summit SEOUL, October 21 (AJP) - The final inspection of key military installations and other security facilities was conducted on Tuesday in preparation for next week's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, which is set to take place in southern South Korea. Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Jin Young-seung flew over the East Sea in a P-8 patrol aircraft and inspected a Marine unit in Pohang, emphasizing military readiness ahead of the multilateral gathering, which is scheduled to take place in the historic city of Gyeongju from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. He instructed soldiers and personnel to stay on alert and be prepared for various scenarios to ensure security, while emphasizing the importance of information sharing and coordination among relevant agencies to respond promptly to any emergencies. The Ministry of National Defense has also been preparing to support the summit since July, with plans to deploy 2,660 personnel in Gyeongju and nearby areas to assist with maintaining order, providing interpretation services, VIP protection, and other security-related duties. The ministry pledged to maintain vigilance and take all necessary measures to ensure the summit's success. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-21 17:12:36

South Korea's DAPA signs pact with Brazil's Embraer to expand transport aircraft partnership SEOUL, October 20 (AJP) - South Korea’s defense procurement agency has signed an agreement with Embraer, Brazil’s leading aerospace manufacturer, to deepen industrial ties and expand Korean participation in the company’s global supply chain. According to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on Monday, the agency signed a memorandum of understanding with Embraer S.A. during the Seoul International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2025 in Goyang, just outside Seoul. The agreement aims to increase the use of Korean-made components in Embraer aircraft exported around the world and to promote broader defense collaboration between the two countries. Founded in 1969, Embraer is one of the world’s top three civilian aircraft manufacturers, with more than 9,000 aircraft delivered globally. In recent years, the company has been expanding its footprint in the military sector with its C-390 Millennium transport aircraft, which has been adopted by several air forces, including those of Brazil and Portugal. South Korean small and medium-sized suppliers are already contributing key components to the C-390 program, with exports valued at about 450 billion won ($330 million). Those same parts are expected to be used in the aircraft to be acquired by the South Korean Air Force. Under the new memorandum, DAPA and Embraer plan to broaden cooperation, allowing Korean firms to become part of Embraer’s global supply network and explore new defense opportunities in Korea and beyond. “Korean companies play a crucial role in the C-390 project, and this MOU will broaden our cooperation,” Bosco da Costa Jr., CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, said in a statement. “We hope to create new success stories in the global defense market with our Korean partners.” Kang Joong-hee, who heads DAPA’s aviation business division, said the agreement marked “a significant step toward a collaborative growth model that goes beyond a simple buyer-seller relationship between Korea and Brazil.” * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-20 11:19:20

Chinese sanctions on Hanwha Ocean could affect MASGA project, Seoul official warns SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - South Korea’s top defense procurement official warned on Friday that recent Chinese sanctions against Hanwha Ocean’s U.S. subsidiaries could eventually hinder a joint shipbuilding initiative between Seoul and Washington. During a parliamentary audit session, Suk Jong-geon, commissioner of the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, said the Chinese sanctions could affect the Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA) project, an effort to bolster collaboration between the two allies’ naval industries. “The impact may not be immediate, but there is a potential for future disruption,” Suk told lawmakers in response to a question from Rep. Yoo Yong-won of the main opposition People Power Party. Earlier this week, China’s Ministry of Commerce announced a ban on transactions with five subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean, including Hanwha Philadelphia Shipyard and Hanwha Shipping. The South Korean conglomerate is a key participant in MASGA, a project that gained visibility when President Lee Jae Myung visited the Philadelphia shipyard during his U.S. trip in August. Suk said that while no contracts have yet been signed under MASGA, the sanctions could complicate the procurement of specialized shipbuilding equipment from outside the United States. He added that his agency had not yet conducted a detailed assessment of possible financial losses. Rep. Yoo estimated that the sanctions could lead to losses of up to $60 million. The lawmaker also called for the swift conclusion of the Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement (RDP-A), which would allow South Korean firms to participate directly in U.S. government defense contracts. Suk confirmed that the agreement is awaiting approval from the White House National Security Council and emphasized that it is critical to the success of the MASGA initiative. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-17 16:33:23

New military chiefs of South Korea, US hold first phone talks SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - South Korean and U.S. military chiefs spoke by phone on Friday to discuss ways to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) here said. JCS chief Jin Young-seung talked with his U.S. counterpart Dan Caine for the first time since assuming his post late last month. The two agreed on the importance of maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula and deterring North Korean threats through a strong alliance between the two closest allies. They also agreed to further discuss details at the upcoming Military Committee Meeting, scheduled to be held in Seoul next month. Jin is also scheduled to speak with Japanese Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura later in the day to discuss ways to enhance trilateral security cooperation between Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-17 10:40:57

Excavation of Korean War remains near DMZ resumes SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - A project to excavate the remains of South Korean soldiers killed during the 1950–53 Korean War has resumed near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in Gangwon Province, the Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday. The project aims to "return the remains of war victims to their families and transform the DMZ into a zone of peace," the ministry explained. As part of a series of conciliatory efforts to ease military tensions between the two Koreas since South Korean President Lee Jae-myung took office earlier this year, the project's resumption came about three years after it was halted in 2022. In 2018, both Koreas agreed under the Sept. 19 military pact to jointly excavate remains in the DMZ including Cheorwon. South Korea began excavations in April 2019, but North Korea did not participate. The project was suspended in November 2022 due to security concerns as inter-Korean relations deteriorated. Nearly 500 remains were recovered along with more than 100,000 belongings, and about a dozen of the remains have been identified. * This article, published by Aju Business Daily, was translated by AI and edited by AJP. 2025-10-15 14:54:21