Text Fwd: [ROK MND News Catch Up-May 2 to 4] Korea and U.S. jointly focus more on western islands

Recent News, Ministry of National Defense, ROK
http://www.mnd.go.kr/mndEng_2009/WhatsNew/RecentNews/index.jsp
Uploaded on 2011-05-09
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No. 761
Korea and U.S. jointly focus more on western islands
May 4, 2011

Seoul and Washington once again showed off strong alliance as the United States forces in South Korea supported regular live-firing exercise conducted by South Korean marines on May 3 in waters off Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong islands near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), de facto maritime border between South and North Korea in the Yellow Sea.

"The United States Forces Korea has improved combat capabilities by assisting South Korea's live-fire drill and revealed firmness of alliance between two countries," said USFK. "Like other regular exercises, U.S. and South Korean forces are able to reinforce joint combat capabilities and communication skills in strategic as well as operational system through this drill."

Gen. Walter Sharp, commander of U.S. Forces Korea and Combined Forces Command, said that not only at western islands near the NLL but also at other strategic places in South Korea, Seoul and Washington are planning to engage in more joint drill in order to reinforce South Korea-U.S. alliance.

"These joint drills are defensive in nature and focused on deterring North Korea's military provocations and preparing for strong readiness in case deterrence effort fails," Sharp said.

In the meantime, USFK said that 16 U.S. marines and army soldiers joined and observed South Korean marine's live-fire drill. U.S. troops were experts in intelligence, artillery and public affairs, USFK said.

"Military Armistice Commission under the United Nations Command has sent multinational observers to the drill site to check if armistice is being properly followed," USFK said. "The group of multinational observers has confirmed that the drill was conducted under armistice and standard authorized by international community."

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No. 760
Ministry invites former ministers to explain policies
May 2, 2011

Former South Korean defense ministers urged the Defense Ministry on April 29 not to proceed with the 307 National Defense Reform Plan with haste but with prudence.

The Minister of National Defense Kim Kwan-jin, second from left, explains detailed plans and its direction of the Defense Reformation Plan 307 to former defense ministers on April 29 at the ministry in Seoul.

The Ministry of National Defense invited 15 former defense ministers to the ministry in Seoul and explained details of the Defense Reform Plan 307, the ministry said. Among a total of 42 former defense ministers since the foundation of the country in 1948, 23 are alive.

"In the late 1980s when a Defense Reform Plan 8·18 was introduced, we told then opposition party leaders Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung that the plan won't be easy but it went right at the end," said a former minister Lee Sang-hoon. "The basic direction of the 307 plan is good. Just take time to fulfill the plan."

Another former minister Cho Young-gil urged the ministry to listen senior ministers' opinions carefully and reflect them in the new reform plan. Former minister Yoon Kwang-ung supported the new plan by saying it is right to hand over some military administration power to the joint chiefs of staff.

"I hope [current Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff] Gen. Han Min-koo could arrange the plan properly to realize the reform," said a former minister Ro Jae-hyun.

At the end of the meeting, one former minister said their words are given with a spirit of loving the military, according to a defense official at the ministry. The official also said that former ministers urged the ministry to fulfill the plan by keeping in mind opposing voices toward the plan from some military leaders came out not in purpose of opposition itself but to deliver different views.

The official added the former ministers told the ministry to not only link the new plan with the scheduled transfer of wartime operational control from the United States to South Korea but also collect public opinions and create common grounds to push ahead with the plan.

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No. 759
Marine 1st Division reinforce rapid response skill
May 2, 2011


South Korean Marine 1st Division strengthened its rapid response capabilities by conducting a regimental landing operation called 'Modeling' drill in a bid to maintain firm readiness.



Advance military unit approaches toward a seashore by removing obstacles with 5,000-ton Dokdo seeing behind during a special landing drill conducted by South Korean Marine 1st Division on April 29 in waters off Pohang, North Gyeongsang.

The drill, which took place on April 29 in waters near Pohang, North Gyeongsang, with a 5,000-ton ship Dokdo, Landing Platform Helicopter, surface battleships and some 30 Korean Assault Amphibious vehicles, was implemented aimed at improving advanced combat capabilities and readiness posture.

The goal of maritime drill was to secure a bridgehead after making breakthrough of the sea and penetrating potential enemy's bulwark.

The drill began with advance forces exploding maritime obstacles. Then with a help of fire from warships and fighters, ground forces made landing from the sea and the air. Troops secured coast bridgehead and took over a target area on the land.

The division, in particular, actively applied a new method so-called 'role-based command method' in this landing exercise. Usually, it takes about more than a week to plan for landing drill but this time military engaged in unexpected landing operation.

Commanding officers has to practice quicker control and decision-making efforts in accordance with scale and capabilities of each unit in order to complete the mission in a short period of time.

"The landing operation is focused on making breakthrough of battles when it comes to a standstill in emergencies and eventually deal a de facto power of a potential enemy a severe blow," said Col. Jeong Cha-seong, a commander of the drill. "We will keep on practicing exercise more realistically and stronger so that we can become a unit that can fight and win."

In the meantime, some 800 chief executive officers of small and medium companies observed the drill and engraved themselves the importance of national security.

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No. 758
South Korean Navy gets new frigate
May 2, 2011



The South Korean Navy has launched its new 2,300-ton frigate, the Incheon, in a bid to reinforce its deterrence security threats including those from North Korea.

The new 2,300-ton frigate Incheon is launched on April 29 at a shipyard of its builder, the Hyundai Heavy Industries, in Ulsan.

The launching ceremony of the Incheon was attended by nearly 300 people including Adm. Kim Sung-chan, chief of naval operations, and Lee Jai-seong, Hyundai Heavy Industries president, on April 29 at the industries' shipyard in Ulsan.

The Navy gave the name of the new frigate 'Incheon' and the number '811' at the ceremony. The historical whistle was sounded to celebrate the launch when Kim's wife cut a ceremonial tape.

The Navy is expected to receive the Incheon at the end of next year after going through an evaluation process of the new ship. Its operational deployment is scheduled to begin in the middle of 2013 after several months of testing following the delivery.

The Incheon is known to have higher efficiency than existing 1,200-ton Patrol Combat Corvettes and 1,800-ton frigates. The Navy has built the new battleship much stronger in order to prepare for various future maritime warfares.

In particular, the Incheon is equipped with three-dimensional tracking radar developed with domestic technology, Sound Navigation And Ranging and weapon system capable of hitting mid- and long-range targets. The Navy said about 92 percent of domestic technology is applied to build the Incheon.

The Incheon, measuring 113 meters (370 feet) in length, 14 meters in width and 25 meters in height, has a maximum speed of 30 knots. It can carry a 140 members and one helicopter.

It is equipped with state-of-the art weapons systems and military equipment such as anti-ship and anti-aircraft Rolling Airframe Missiles, as well as a Torpedo Acoustic Counter Measure designed to fight off enemy torpedo attacks.

The Navy is expected that maritime defense capabilities will be more strengthened than before when Incheon is mobilized in full operation and it is going to show the best operational tactics to defend the sea in terms of strategic aspects.

“The enhanced anti-ship, anti-airplane and electronic warfare capabilities of the frigate will effectively annihilate enemy submarines seeking to stealthily invade our waters and anyone attempting to threaten the security of our waters,” said Kim during his speech at the ceremony. “On the occasion of the launch ceremony, we promise that we will stand firm as a strong Navy that is respected by the people and as the most formidable force to our enemies.”