U.S. military shooting range under construction raises concerns in S. Korea

STORY: U.S. military shooting range under construction raises concerns in S. Korea DATELINE: May 12, 2023 LENGTH: 00:00:57 LOCATION: Seoul CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of shooting range construction site STORYLINE: The construction of a shooting range used by the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) in South Korea without prior notification to local authorities has raised concerns about noise and safety risks among local residents. Local broadcaster KBS reported that logging work began in March on a hill in downtown Changwon, about 300 km southeast of the capital Seoul, and the shooting range will be completed in two years. However, as apartment complexes, shopping centers and industrial parks are concentrated within a radius of 1.5 km from the shooting range, nearby residents are greatly concerned about the noise at the site and the risk of emergency accidents. The report said that local authorities were unaware of the project until residents raised complaints. Local residents have raised petitions on

USFK commander speaks to press in Panmunjeom

USFK commander speaks to press in Panmunjeom

SEOUL, South Korea - Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, speaks to reporters in the South Korean part of Panmunjeom on July 27, 2014, the 61st anniversary of the signing of the 1950-53 Korean War armistice.

S. Korea, U.S. conduct air maneuver exercise

STORY: S. Korea, U.S. conduct air maneuver exercise DATELINE: June 8, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:21 LOCATION: Seoul CATEGORY: MILITARY SHOTLIST: 1. various of S.Korea-U.S. joint air maneuver exercise (courtesy of Ministry of National Defense, ROK) STORYLINE: South Korea and the United States on Tuesday conducted their joint air maneuver exercise, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The South Korean air force mobilized 16 fighter jets, including four F-35A stealth jets mounted with precise guided missiles, while the air force of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) sent four warplanes. The air maneuvers were carried out over the western waters of South Korea, but no live-fire exercise was staged. It came a day after the two allies jointly test-fired eight ground-to-ground ballistic missiles off the eastern coast of South Korea. South Korea's JCS said in a statement on Sunday that the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) fired eight short-range ballistic missiles eastward. The DPRK's missile launche

South Korea gripped with fear over U.S. bioweapon labs

STORY: South Korea gripped with fear over U.S. bioweapon labs DATELINE: April 13, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:59 LOCATION: Seoul, South Korea CATEGORY: SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. SOUNDBITE (Korean): LEE JANG-HIE, Emeritus professor, Law school of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies 2. SOUNDBITE (Korean): CHOI WON-SEOK, College student 3. various of the Busan Port's Pier 8 4. various of people taking to the streets outside Busan Port's Pier 8 STORYLINE: South Korea has been gripped with rising fear over U.S. biological weapons laboratories operated by the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). Civic groups and local residents have taken to the streets to demand the U.S. military take its hazardous weapons and vacate the country over the past week. Busan Port's Pier 8 SOUNDBITE (Korean): LEE JANG-HIE, Emeritus professor, Law school of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies "The U.S. military says it has never conducted biological experiments in South Korea, but in fact, as of 2019, it has carried out 16 biological experiments. The del

S.Korean civic groups urge closure of U.S. military's local biochemical laboratories

STORY: S.Korean civic groups urge closure of U.S. military's local biochemical laboratories DATELINE: March 24, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:51 LOCATION: Seoul CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of the U.S. military base located near the Busan Port, South Korea (from JTBC) STORYLINE: More than 200 South Korean civic groups held a rally on Monday in the coastal city of Busan, urging the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) to completely shut down and withdraw biochemical laboratories in South Korea, according to local media. Jeon Wi-bong, one of the protest organizers, told local media that the USFK's biochemical laboratories only serve U.S. interests. "It is the root of misfortune for the country where the biochemical laboratories are located. Such facilities in South Korea should be closed and dismantled as soon as possible," said Jeon. The civic group Jeon works for aims to call on Busan residents to vote on whether to keep the biochemical laboratories in South Korea. By the end of January 2021, nearly 200,000 Busan

USFK commander speaks to press in Panmunjeom

USFK commander speaks to press in Panmunjeom

SEOUL, South Korea - Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, speaks to reporters in the South Korean part of Panmunjeom on July 27, 2014, the 61st anniversary of the signing of the 1950-53 Korean War armistice. (Kyodo)