Choe Museon was not the inventor of heavy artillery, although he made many innovative variations of the concept. Why did other countries not simply take their cannons and heavy firearms with them on board their ships? The problem with a wooden ship is, if its displacement is sufficiently small, the recoil of a heavy weapon … [Read More]
Category: Military (page 2)
Looking back at 2012: Domestic news
In our final round-up of Korea-related stories which caught our eye in 2012, we look at domestic and business news. Modern Life and how to escape it. Korea came 24th out of 34 leading countries in an OECD quality of life index, coming bottom of the class in job security and gender income inequality and … [Read More]
Some well-decorated North Korean generals
Too good not to share. From Alexander Choi’s Facebook page, North Korean generals in full regalia. Quips left below the photo include “and you haven’t seen what’s on their backs…” “a testament to North Korean medicine that they are able to bear all that weight” There are of course questions as to whether the image … [Read More]
Korean navy buys British helicopters
The Korean navy is to buy KRW 589 billion worth of anti-submarine helicopters from AugustaWestland of the UK in preference to a US machine. The contract size is about the same as the Royal Navy’s order of Korean fuel tankers from Daewoo, announced last year. Links: Press release from AugustaWestland [Read More]
Black Eagles showcase the T-50 for Korea Aerospace Industries at the Savoy
Eleven handsome pilots in aviator sunglasses swagger down the runway in slow-motion choreographed formation. Behind them is parked a sleek black and gold aircraft pointing menacingly towards you. A booming Hollywood soundtrack could be announcing the start of a Top Gun sequel. But it’s the start of the promotional video for Korea’s Black Eagles aerobatic … [Read More]
59th anniversary of armistice day
Good to see General Paik Sun-yup looking well at the Panmunjom ceremony today, commemorating the signing of the Korean War armistice on 27 July 1953 Links: Remembering the Forgotten War: LKL interviews Gen Paik Sun-yup, 21 July 2009 [Read More]
Korea’s Black Eagles steal the shows
Amy Lloyd, a regular spectator on the air show circuit, catches the Black Eagles in Gloucester. The Black Eagles Display team are The Republic of Korea’s Air Force Aerobatic Team, and run eight supersonic T-50 Golden Eagle jets. This season was their first in the UK and so far they have attended three major air … [Read More]
Korean Naval Firepower Part 1 – When Wako Attack
The Battle of Lepanto, wherein the allied forces of Venice, Genoa, and Spain overcame the Turks by means of a superior number of cannons, was a turning point in naval history in the West. Dominance of the sea enabled countries such as the Netherlands and England to play a dominant role in world affairs. The … [Read More]
The Seoul Nuclear Security Summit
Trying to stay in Seoul at the time of such a big event as the Nuclear Security Summit meant that some of my preferred hotels were booked solid or had revoked any discounts which might otherwise have been available. But it was interesting seeing the preparations that Seoul had been making, from the security arrangements … [Read More]
Daewoo wins Royal Navy tanker contract
UK Royal Navy buys Korean to keep its ships fuelled: £452m contract for four tankers goes to Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering (Daily Mail via @rjkoehler) http://t.co/jCNY8p5j [Read More]
A look back at 2011 – part 3
In the final part of our look back at 2011, we summarise some of the news stories which caught our eye. China This year the region’s biggest economy continued flexing its muscles: it conducted the first test flight of its new stealth fighter, announced that it had deployed stealth missile speedboats in the East China … [Read More]
Student soldiers finally get official recognition
Real life student veterans from “71 Into the Fire” battle get recognition, and military serial numbers, 61 years on. http://t.co/jyHtrOfQ Links: LKL review of 71 Into the Fire, 포화 속으로, dir John H Lee (이재한, 2010) [Read More]
Kims used as target practice
BBC News – Kim Jong-il portrait used as South Korean army target http://bbc.in/l91KX5 # [Read More]
Korean Rockets Part 2 – Hwacha, the Mobile Multiple Rocket Launcher
The power of the 15th century singijeon rocket was taken to a new level by the Hwacha launcher, a radical device which could fire 100 singijeon rockets in a single volley. Here is a reconstructed version. In 1492, it played an integral role in repelling an invasion from the North. Its full potential was demonstrated … [Read More]
Korean Rockets Part 1 – the Singijeon
As stated previously (in Korean Naval Firepower Part 1), there is evidence to suggest that gunpowder was in use in Korea during the Three Kingdoms period (57~668 AD). If, as some scholars believe, saltpeter firearms were invented in Korea in the 7th century, this would place the invention 100 years before it is believed to … [Read More]
Photo of the week: the Cheonan dead remembered, one year on
A mother of one of the 46 sailors killed when the Cheonan was sunk on March 26, 2010, cries in front of a relief sculpture of her son that is part of a monument unveiled on Baengnyeong Island, closest to where the ship sank. (photo: Joongang Ilbo / NEWSIS) [Read More]