US Forces Korea yesterday launched a new space force unit, as Washington and Seoul ramp up efforts to better counter North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats.
US Space Forces Korea is the second overseas space component of the US Space Force, and is tasked with monitoring, detecting and tracking incoming missiles, as well as bolstering the US military’s overall space capability.
It is to be led by Lieutenant Colonel Joshua McCullion, the US Forces Korea said.
Photo: EPA-EFE
General Paul LaCamera, commander of the sub-unified command of the US Indo-Pacific Command, said the unit would enhance the US’ ability to ensure peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.
“The US military is faster, better connected, more informed, precise and legal because of space,” LaCamera told a ceremony at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea.
Seoul and Washington are seeking to boost security cooperation to deter North Korea, which earlier this year tested intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the US mainland.
Photo: EPA-EFE
The South Korean Air Force this month also set up its own space unit, saying it would bolster its space power and operation capability together with the US Space Force.
US officials have expressed concerns over rising security activity in space by major rivals, including China’s development of hypersonic weapons and Russia’s test of anti-satellite technology last year.
Beijing has warned Seoul against joining a US-led global missile shield, and criticized that THAAD US missile defense systems are installed in South Korea.
The South Korean Ministry of National Defense said the creation of the US space component had nothing to do with South Korea’s participation in existing missile defense programs.
About 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea under a mutual defense treaty forged after the 1950-1953 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.
The US Indo-Pacific Command and Central Command set up their space units last month in Hawaii and Florida respectively.
MORE VISITORS: The Tourism Administration said that it is seeing positive prospects in its efforts to expand the tourism market in North America and Europe Taiwan has been ranked as the cheapest place in the world to travel to this year, based on a list recommended by NerdWallet. The San Francisco-based personal finance company said that Taiwan topped the list of 16 nations it chose for budget travelers because US tourists do not need visas and travelers can easily have a good meal for less than US$10. A bus ride in Taipei costs just under US$0.50, while subway rides start at US$0.60, the firm said, adding that public transportation in Taiwan is easy to navigate. The firm also called Taiwan a “food lover’s paradise,” citing inexpensive breakfast stalls
TRADE: A mandatory declaration of origin for manufactured goods bound for the US is to take effect on May 7 to block China from exploiting Taiwan’s trade channels All products manufactured in Taiwan and exported to the US must include a signed declaration of origin starting on May 7, the Bureau of Foreign Trade announced yesterday. US President Donald Trump on April 2 imposed a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan, but one week later announced a 90-day pause on its implementation. However, a universal 10 percent tariff was immediately applied to most imports from around the world. On April 12, the Trump administration further exempted computers, smartphones and semiconductors from the new tariffs. In response, President William Lai’s (賴清德) administration has introduced a series of countermeasures to support affected
CROSS-STRAIT: The vast majority of Taiwanese support maintaining the ‘status quo,’ while concern is rising about Beijing’s influence operations More than eight out of 10 Taiwanese reject Beijing’s “one country, two systems” framework for cross-strait relations, according to a survey released by the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) on Thursday. The MAC’s latest quarterly survey found that 84.4 percent of respondents opposed Beijing’s “one country, two systems” formula for handling cross-strait relations — a figure consistent with past polling. Over the past three years, opposition to the framework has remained high, ranging from a low of 83.6 percent in April 2023 to a peak of 89.6 percent in April last year. In the most recent poll, 82.5 percent also rejected China’s
PLUGGING HOLES: The amendments would bring the legislation in line with systems found in other countries such as Japan and the US, Legislator Chen Kuan-ting said Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chen Kuan-ting (陳冠廷) has proposed amending national security legislation amid a spate of espionage cases. Potential gaps in security vetting procedures for personnel with access to sensitive information prompted him to propose the amendments, which would introduce changes to Article 14 of the Classified National Security Information Protection Act (國家機密保護法), Chen said yesterday. The proposal, which aims to enhance interagency vetting procedures and reduce the risk of classified information leaks, would establish a comprehensive security clearance system in Taiwan, he said. The amendment would require character and loyalty checks for civil servants and intelligence personnel prior to
RSS