Korea Defense Blog
@koreadefenseblog.bsky.social
ROK defense policy, military doctrine, combat equipment and everything in between.
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Also on FB, Insta, Twitter and Youtube.
🧵 on the planned manpower reform presented by the Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-baek to overcome the extreme manpower crisis, with the ROK Armed Forces currently - and for the foreseeable future - severely understaffed.
October 1, 2025 at 11:59 AM
🧵 on the planned manpower reform presented by the Republic of Korea Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-baek to overcome the extreme manpower crisis, with the ROK Armed Forces currently - and for the foreseeable future - severely understaffed.
🇰🇵 development of drones continues. Pictured are the Saetbyeol-4 (Morning Star) strategic UAV, clearly modeled after the 🇺🇲 RQ-4 Global Hawk and Geumseong (Venus) one-way attack drones, seemingly inspired by 🇮🇱/🇷🇺 models. Some experts suggest they may use AI tracking/targeting.
September 30, 2025 at 8:58 AM
🇰🇵 development of drones continues. Pictured are the Saetbyeol-4 (Morning Star) strategic UAV, clearly modeled after the 🇺🇲 RQ-4 Global Hawk and Geumseong (Venus) one-way attack drones, seemingly inspired by 🇮🇱/🇷🇺 models. Some experts suggest they may use AI tracking/targeting.
🧵 🇰🇵 has been requesting transfers of key components for nuclear propulsion submarines & delivery of new fighter jets from 🇷🇺 since last year. 🇰🇷 is evaluating a reported delivery of 2~3 nuclear reactor modules taken from old 🇷🇺 submarines earlier this year.
September 19, 2025 at 8:21 AM
🧵 🇰🇵 has been requesting transfers of key components for nuclear propulsion submarines & delivery of new fighter jets from 🇷🇺 since last year. 🇰🇷 is evaluating a reported delivery of 2~3 nuclear reactor modules taken from old 🇷🇺 submarines earlier this year.
Unsurprisingly, the Republic of Korea's participation in UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in Lebanon) will end together with the UN's mandate by 2027, with the Dongmyeong battalion scheduled to return to Korea and be deactivated.
The unit has helped Lebanon keep the peace for 18 years.
The unit has helped Lebanon keep the peace for 18 years.
1) With the Trump admin's wish to end UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in Lebanon), the UNSC voted to extend the mission for a final time until Dec 31 2026. The ROK MND has yet to comment on the future of the Army's Dongmyeong ("eastern light") battalion stationed in Tyre, Lebanon.
September 14, 2025 at 9:16 AM
Unsurprisingly, the Republic of Korea's participation in UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in Lebanon) will end together with the UN's mandate by 2027, with the Dongmyeong battalion scheduled to return to Korea and be deactivated.
The unit has helped Lebanon keep the peace for 18 years.
The unit has helped Lebanon keep the peace for 18 years.
1) With the Trump admin's wish to end UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in Lebanon), the UNSC voted to extend the mission for a final time until Dec 31 2026. The ROK MND has yet to comment on the future of the Army's Dongmyeong ("eastern light") battalion stationed in Tyre, Lebanon.
August 30, 2025 at 6:30 AM
1) With the Trump admin's wish to end UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in Lebanon), the UNSC voted to extend the mission for a final time until Dec 31 2026. The ROK MND has yet to comment on the future of the Army's Dongmyeong ("eastern light") battalion stationed in Tyre, Lebanon.
North Korean state media has revealed that Kim Jong-un attended a ceremony for some of the KPA soldiers KIA on Aug 1. Prior to the main event, a Russian Il-76 cargo plane delivered 20 remains to Pyongyang Intl Airport.
Show this to deniers of NK's involvement in the Ukraine war.
Show this to deniers of NK's involvement in the Ukraine war.
August 22, 2025 at 11:03 AM
North Korean state media has revealed that Kim Jong-un attended a ceremony for some of the KPA soldiers KIA on Aug 1. Prior to the main event, a Russian Il-76 cargo plane delivered 20 remains to Pyongyang Intl Airport.
Show this to deniers of NK's involvement in the Ukraine war.
Show this to deniers of NK's involvement in the Ukraine war.
A rifle platoon of 35 soldiers of the New Zealand Defence Force is currently training in Korea with ROK-US forces, with more deployments planned after their departure in October.
6k NZDF troops fought in the Korean War & they've been contributingn staff to UN Command since 1998.
6k NZDF troops fought in the Korean War & they've been contributingn staff to UN Command since 1998.
August 13, 2025 at 9:35 AM
A rifle platoon of 35 soldiers of the New Zealand Defence Force is currently training in Korea with ROK-US forces, with more deployments planned after their departure in October.
6k NZDF troops fought in the Korean War & they've been contributingn staff to UN Command since 1998.
6k NZDF troops fought in the Korean War & they've been contributingn staff to UN Command since 1998.
🧵 Pictures from Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 in Australia, where 820 ROK Army, Navy & Marine Corps troops conducted naval, amphibious & ground maneuvers alongside allies & partners.
July 28, 2025 at 9:00 AM
🧵 Pictures from Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 in Australia, where 820 ROK Army, Navy & Marine Corps troops conducted naval, amphibious & ground maneuvers alongside allies & partners.
🧵 I've written many threads on the Republic of Korea's stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but this article may sum it up the best. Recommended read.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
July 25, 2025 at 7:06 AM
🧵 I've written many threads on the Republic of Korea's stance on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but this article may sum it up the best. Recommended read.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
🧵 Korean company Seawolf Marine, a manufacturer of flotation vests, has been diving into the world of inflatable military decoys. This is their new M142 HIMARS dummy, capable of maneuvering, moving its rocket launcher & emitting smoke.
July 19, 2025 at 1:38 PM
🧵 Korean company Seawolf Marine, a manufacturer of flotation vests, has been diving into the world of inflatable military decoys. This is their new M142 HIMARS dummy, capable of maneuvering, moving its rocket launcher & emitting smoke.
🧵 While it’s true the ROK Army's second acquisition of the AH-64E Apache Guardian is at the risk of being canceled, the reason is primarily cost-driven rather than capability-driven. The age of the attack helicopter isn't over.
July 13, 2025 at 11:53 AM
🧵 While it’s true the ROK Army's second acquisition of the AH-64E Apache Guardian is at the risk of being canceled, the reason is primarily cost-driven rather than capability-driven. The age of the attack helicopter isn't over.
🧵 on what 🇰🇷 National Assembly member Kim Jun-hyeong claims the previous government under now-impeached President Yoon Seok-yeol sent to 🇺🇦 as part of our non-lethal military aid.
July 9, 2025 at 11:59 AM
🧵 on what 🇰🇷 National Assembly member Kim Jun-hyeong claims the previous government under now-impeached President Yoon Seok-yeol sent to 🇺🇦 as part of our non-lethal military aid.
🧵 Yesterday, on July 7th, Kim Jun-hyeong of the progressive Rebuilding Korea Party (RPK) condemned the previous 🇰🇷 government's aid to 🇺🇦 under impeached President Yoon Seok-yeol. He claims the aid was irresponsible, criminal & may even have had the purpose of aggravating 🇰🇵.
July 8, 2025 at 11:41 AM
🧵 Yesterday, on July 7th, Kim Jun-hyeong of the progressive Rebuilding Korea Party (RPK) condemned the previous 🇰🇷 government's aid to 🇺🇦 under impeached President Yoon Seok-yeol. He claims the aid was irresponsible, criminal & may even have had the purpose of aggravating 🇰🇵.
Major Kim Hyeong-gi is the first ROK medic to acquire the US Army's Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB). He works as a dental care medical officer at the Armed Forces Hospital in Daejon.
Since the mid-2010s, the ROK military has been modernizing its battlefield medicine.
Since the mid-2010s, the ROK military has been modernizing its battlefield medicine.
July 1, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Major Kim Hyeong-gi is the first ROK medic to acquire the US Army's Expert Field Medical Badge (EFMB). He works as a dental care medical officer at the Armed Forces Hospital in Daejon.
Since the mid-2010s, the ROK military has been modernizing its battlefield medicine.
Since the mid-2010s, the ROK military has been modernizing its battlefield medicine.
🧵 Newly-elected & now incumbent 🇰🇷 President Lee Jae-myeong shook hands with 🇺🇦 President Zelensky during a photoshoot at the G7 summit. After the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lee had called Zelensky a "beginner politician" who provoked Russia by requesting to join NATO.
June 19, 2025 at 8:20 AM
🧵 Newly-elected & now incumbent 🇰🇷 President Lee Jae-myeong shook hands with 🇺🇦 President Zelensky during a photoshoot at the G7 summit. After the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Lee had called Zelensky a "beginner politician" who provoked Russia by requesting to join NATO.
1) The North Korean People's Army (KPA) will deploy 6k non-combat troops to Kursk Oblast. This is being widely misreported as an additional combat deployment, when it's not.
They're engineers, with 5k for construction and 1k for demining.
They're engineers, with 5k for construction and 1k for demining.
June 17, 2025 at 12:47 PM
1) The North Korean People's Army (KPA) will deploy 6k non-combat troops to Kursk Oblast. This is being widely misreported as an additional combat deployment, when it's not.
They're engineers, with 5k for construction and 1k for demining.
They're engineers, with 5k for construction and 1k for demining.
A team from the ROK Army 3rd Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) hunting enemies during a counter-infiltration exercise.
While conventional units (infantry, support, police) isolate & cordon off KPA SOF infiltrator units, ROK SOF actively pursue & engage them.
While conventional units (infantry, support, police) isolate & cordon off KPA SOF infiltrator units, ROK SOF actively pursue & engage them.
June 5, 2025 at 9:53 AM
A team from the ROK Army 3rd Special Forces Brigade (Airborne) hunting enemies during a counter-infiltration exercise.
While conventional units (infantry, support, police) isolate & cordon off KPA SOF infiltrator units, ROK SOF actively pursue & engage them.
While conventional units (infantry, support, police) isolate & cordon off KPA SOF infiltrator units, ROK SOF actively pursue & engage them.
🧵 Officially disclosed allied intelligence has confirmed the transfer of advanced Russian weapons systems to North Korea in return for their troop deployment & arms transfers. Among the Russian weapons is at least one Russian Pantsir short-range air defense (SHORAD) system.
May 31, 2025 at 2:18 PM
🧵 Officially disclosed allied intelligence has confirmed the transfer of advanced Russian weapons systems to North Korea in return for their troop deployment & arms transfers. Among the Russian weapons is at least one Russian Pantsir short-range air defense (SHORAD) system.
New KSM-120 "Skyfall" 120mm self-propelled mortars of the 26th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Capital Mechanized Division (Tiger division) conducting their first live fire.
May 25, 2025 at 12:01 PM
New KSM-120 "Skyfall" 120mm self-propelled mortars of the 26th Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Capital Mechanized Division (Tiger division) conducting their first live fire.
ROK Army V Corps Military Police & National Police North Gyeonggi Province Special Operations Unit (SOU) conducting a joint counter terror exercise.
Both military & civilian police have key responsibilities in countering North Korean KPA SOF infiltrators.
Both military & civilian police have key responsibilities in countering North Korean KPA SOF infiltrators.
May 12, 2025 at 10:25 AM
ROK Army V Corps Military Police & National Police North Gyeonggi Province Special Operations Unit (SOU) conducting a joint counter terror exercise.
Both military & civilian police have key responsibilities in countering North Korean KPA SOF infiltrators.
Both military & civilian police have key responsibilities in countering North Korean KPA SOF infiltrators.
A short 🧵 on 🇷🇺 President Putin meeting 🇰🇵 Korean People's Army leadership at yesterday's Victory Day Parade in Moscow.
May 10, 2025 at 6:13 AM
A short 🧵 on 🇷🇺 President Putin meeting 🇰🇵 Korean People's Army leadership at yesterday's Victory Day Parade in Moscow.