The United States said Friday (May 17) it had approved more than US$600 million in sales of air defense missiles to South Korea and Japan as tensions return with North Korea. The USS Winston S. Churchill fires SM-2 missiles in the Atlantic Ocean in April 2018. (Photo: AFP/Jared HALLAHAN) The State Department said it had approved 94 SM-2 missiles used by ships against air threats, along with 12 guidance systems for a total cost of US$313.9 million. It separately gave the green light to sell 160 anti-air AMRAAM missiles and related guidance equipment to Japan for US$317 million. The sales "will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States" by assisting key allies and "will not alter the basic military balance in the region," a State Department statement said. North Korea last week tested what the South Korean military said appeared to be two short-range missiles in its second launch in less than a week. The tests come amid a standstill in … [Read more...] about US approves missile sales to South Korea, Japan
South korean military equipment
Driving Kim Jong-un: High-resistance limousine serves North Korean leader – VnExpress International
The limousine has been engineered to resistance level B6/B7 to withstand military grade high-velocity small-arms fire, along with protection from hand-grenade shrapnel and other explosives. Besides, it has run-flat tires able to drive at speeds of up to 80 km per hour. Other safety features include a self-sealing fuel tank coated with a special material and a fire-extinguishing system. International media have reported that this is the latest limousine that the North Korean leader has purchased. The limousine also comes with a very high level of standard equipment including an optimized, rear-compartment air conditioning system and the latest infotainment system which is able to play all popular media formats in outstanding quality. A newly developed 19-inch flat-screen display and a high-performance refrigerator compartment are also part of standard fare. The limousine was also used during his historic summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April 2018. … [Read more...] about Driving Kim Jong-un: High-resistance limousine serves North Korean leader – VnExpress International
Việt Nam to commit 268 military engineers to UN peacekeeping forces
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam is preparing a contingency of 268 military engineers to be sent to war-torn South Sudan as the next step of its commitment to UN peacekeeping efforts, deputy defence minister Nguyễn Chí Vịnh has said. The move comes following the deployment of 29 individual officers and the first field hospital level 2 to South Sudan late last year. The Politburo has agreed in principle to the defence ministry’s plan to deploy its engineers, Vịnh said at Monday meeting held in Hà Nội to review preparations and resolve difficulties for the move. Vịnh said Việt Nam has completed registration at the UN Peacekeeping Capability Readiness System (PCRS), through which the UN Secretariat would assess the readiness of the units the member state pledged. Hoàng Kim Phụng, head of the Việt Nam Peacekeeping Department, said English and French language courses are being organised for the … [Read more...] about Việt Nam to commit 268 military engineers to UN peacekeeping forces
North Korean soldier defects across border: South’s military
By AFP  December 1, 2018 | 11:39 am GMT+7 Defections along the closely guarded inter-Korean border are rare. Photo by AFP/Ed Jones A North Korean soldier defected to South Korea across the eastern land border on Saturday, the South's military said. Defections across the closely guarded inter-Korean frontier are rare, and this one comes as the neighbours pursue a delicate reconciliation process. "A North Korean soldier was detected crossing the military demarcation line" by South Korean troops using surveillance equipment, the military Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said in a statement. "The soldier is safely in our custody," it said. "Related agencies plan to investigate him regarding the details of how he came to the South." Even as talks on denuclearisation between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled, the two Koreas are pushing ahead with a reconciliation process, taking steps to ease tensions along their heavily fortified border. They have begun work to … [Read more...] about North Korean soldier defects across border: South’s military
South Korea hosts international fleet review without Japan
South Korea hosts an international fleet review off the coast of Jeju with 19 naval ships from 12 other countries, including Vietnam and the U.S. South Korea hosts international fleet review without Japan South Korean President Moon Jae-in attended the event Thursday with delegations from 46 countries, the presidential office said. South Korea also hosted an international fleet review in 1998 and 2008 "to inspect combat readiness of warships and discipline of sailors," according to the navy. Japan decided not to take part after Seoul effectively asked Tokyo not to fly its "Rising Sun" flag on a warship. Many people in South Korea see the red-and-white flag as a symbol of Japan's past military aggression. Vietnam's 015 Tran Hung Dao, a Russian built Gepard-class frigate with advanced military equipment, arrived in South Korea Wednesday for the fleet review. The fleet review is taking place off Jeju Island between Wednesday and Monday. 13 countries including the U.S., Russia … [Read more...] about South Korea hosts international fleet review without Japan