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South Korea keeps eye on alleged North Korean troop deployment for Russia's war in Ukraine
SEOUL, October 17 (AJP) - Seoul is "closely monitoring" reports of Russia forming a special battalion composed of North Koreans, the National Intelligence Service here said Wednesday. The NIS also added that it is collaborating with Ukraine to verify these reports. The comments came days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused North Korea of sending troops to Russia. In his daily video message last weekend, he said, "We see an increasing alliance between Russia and r
October 17, 2024
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Trump signals massive hike for USFK upkeep if reelected
SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) - Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has implied the possibility of increasing South Korea's contribution for maintaining U.S. troops on the Korean Peninsula, if he wins a second U.S. presidency. Speaking at an interview with the Economic Club of Chicago and Bloomberg News on Tuesday, he claimed that South Korea would be paying US$10 billion annually for the upkeep of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) if he were still in office. Trump sa
October 16, 2024
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Korea unveils 8.8 trillion won package to support chip industry
SEOUL, October 16 (AJP) – The South Korean government announced on Wednesday that about 8.8 trillion won (US$6.4 billion) will be injected into the semiconductor ecosystem by 2025. The comprehensive support package, unveiled by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, includes low-interest loans, fund investments and support for infrastructure and manpower development. Of the total investment, 4.7 trillion won will be provided through financial support programs, including 4.25 trillion won i
October 16, 2024
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Russia urges South Korea to refrain from provocations over North Korea's drone allegations
SEOUL, October 15 (AJP) - Russia urged South Korea to refrain from "further provocations" regarding North Korea's allegations of Seoul deploying drones across the border. South Korea "should take Pyongyang's warnings very seriously and cease further escalation on the peninsula through their reckless and provocative campaign, which exacerbates tension and could lead to actual armed confrontations," said Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson from Russia's Foreign Ministr
October 15, 2024
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Biden nominates new USFK chief
Lieutenant General Xavier T. Brunson. Courtesy of the U.S. Army SEOUL, September 12 (AJP) - Lieutenant General Xavier T. Brunson has been named as a nominee to lead the U.S. Forces Korea, the Pentagon said on Wednesday. U.S. President Joe Biden nominated him to replace General Paul LaCamera who has led the position since July 2021. Brunson's nomination, which comes as LaCamera's tour in Seoul ends, requires approval from the Senate. Brunson currently serves as the Commanding General
September 12, 2024
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LIG Nex1 selected as preferred bidder for reconnaissance unmanned surface vessels
SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) – LIG Nex1 said Wednesday that it has been selected as the preferred bidder to develop unmanned surface vessels (USVs) for the South Korean Navy. Under the project, two 12-meter-class USVs will be developed by 2027, aiming to enhance surveillance, reconnaissance and rapid response capabilities for forward naval bases and key ports, according to the Korean defense contractor. Since 2015, LIG Nex1 has been developing the Haegum (Sea Sword) series of USVs. The defe
September 11, 2024
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Kim Jong-un inspects test of new drones amid ongoing South Korea-US joint drill
SEOUL, August 26 (AJU PRESS) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un watched a test of new drones and vowed to develop more such weapons to boost the isolated country's war readiness, state media reported Monday. "It is necessary to develop and produce more suicide drones of various types to be used in tactical infantry and special operation units, as well as strategic reconnaissance and multi-purpose attack drones," Kim was quoted as saying by Pyongyang's state-run Korean Central N
August 26, 2024
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PHOTOS: S. Koreans seek renewable energy option for homes
SEOUL, August 22 (AJU PRESS) - To promote Energy Day and the constitutional appeal, activists held a demonstration and press conference outside the Korea Electric Power Corporation's Seoul headquarters on Aug. 22. On Energy Day, 41 plaintiffs filed a constitutional appeal against laws that allow general and industrial electricity users to purchase renewable energy but exclude residential consumers. South Korean people who use electricity for private purposes are not given options to choose
August 22, 2024
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U.S. greenlights sale of Apache attack helicopters to Korea
SEOUL, August 20 (AJU PRESS) - Korea is expected to procure attack helicopters and relevant equipment from the United States. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on Monday that the U.S. State Department has approved the sale of up to three dozen AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and other weapons to Korea. The procurement, estimated to cost approximately $3.5 billion (4.7 trillion Korean won), is being made under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, which is part of the U.S
August 20, 2024
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Korea accepts reduced Indonesian contribution for fighter jet project
SEOUL, August 16 (AJU PRESS) - Korea made a concession by accepting a reduced share of Indonesia's contribution to the two countries' joint development project for fighter jets, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said Friday. The amount Jakarta will shoulder has now been reduced from the initially agreed 1.6 trillion won (approximately US$1.2 billion) to 600 billion won ($450 million). The project was initially estimated to cost around 8.1 trillion won, but DAPA now
August 16, 2024
