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Newsweek
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Ally Flies New Submarine Hunters To Sink North Korea's Navy
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. South Korea began flying its fleet of P-8A maritime patrol aircraft—acquired from its ally the United States—to counter North Korea's navy, including its destroyers and submarines. The P-8A is capable of conducting anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare missions. South Korea received all six maritime patrol aircraft from Boeing in June 2024. Newsweek has contacted the North Korean Embassy in China for comment via email. Why It Matters South Korea, known officially as the Republic of Korea (ROK), hosts about 28,500 U.S. military personnel to deter provocations and attacks from nuclear-armed North Korea as both sides technically remain in a state of war following the conclusion of an armistice—but not a peace treaty—after the Korean War. In addition to developing its nuclear forces, North Korea—under the leadership of Kim Jong Un—has been modernizing its conventional military power, including launching two 5,000-ton destroyers and a missile-armed submarine, as it seeks to establish a "world level" navy. What To Know Citing military officials, Yonhap News Agency of South Korea reported that the country's P-8A maritime patrol aircraft—operated by the navy—began deployment last Thursday following the completion of preparations, including flight exercises and personnel training. The aircraft, also known as Poseidon, is tasked with detecting North Korean submarine fleet, according to South Korean military officials, as it is capable of being armed with sonobuoys and torpedoes, which are designed to detect, identify, track and attack underwater targets. Boeing, which manufactures the aircraft, said an upgrade was being installed on the Poseidon operated by the U.S. Navy, enabling it to counter the world's most advanced submarines. It remains unclear whether the upgrade will also be applied to South Korea's Poseidon fleet. South Korea's navy holding a ceremony to take over a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft at the Naval Air Command in Pohang, South Korea, on July 4, 2024. South Korea's navy holding a ceremony to take over a P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft at the Naval Air Command in Pohang, South Korea, on July 4, 2024. U.S. Forces Korea The Poseidon is also capable of carrying missiles for anti-ship missions. According to the South Korean navy's news release, the Boeing-made aircraft is equipped with a long-range radar, high-resolution imaging and detection equipment, and electronic warfare systems. The P-8A fleet is scheduled to replace the South Korean navy's aging P-3C patrol aircraft, which flies slower and has a shorter range. In late May, one of the P-3C aircraft crashed in the southeastern city of Pohang during a training flight, killing all four crew members. Australia, India and New Zealand are three Indo-Pacific countries that also operate the Poseidon, according to Boeing. What People Are Saying South Korea's navy said in a news release in June 2024: "The procurement of the P-8A will significantly strengthen the ROK Navy's aerial anti-submarine warfare capabilities against North Korean submarines, improve rapid response capabilities in future maritime operations, and expand surveillance capabilities over our waters." Boeing said on its website: "The P-8 Poseidon offers the size, weight, power and cooling capacity to support evolving mission needs, including the integration of additional mission systems to enhance operational versatility. The P-8's open mission systems architecture means rapid, affordable technology insertion for decades of mission readiness." What Happens Next It remains to be seen whether South Korea will make an additional purchase of the P-8A aircraft as North Korea continues to expand its navy.
Korea Herald
01-06-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Final salute for Navy crew killed in Pohang crash
South Korea held an emotional military funeral on Sunday for the four Navy officers killed in last week's crash of a P-3CK maritime patrol aircraft during a training flight. The ceremony, held at the Naval Air Command headquarters in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, drew more than 1,000 attendees, including top military officials, service members and civilians. The four men, identified as Cmdr. Park Jin-woo, Lt. Cmdr. Lee Tae-hoon and senior noncommissioned officers Yoon Dong-gyu and Kang Shin-won, were carrying out takeoff and landing drills on May 29 near Pohang-Gyeongju Airport when their aircraft crashed into a wooded hillside. All were posthumously promoted and officially recognized as having died in the line of duty following a military review, according to the South Korean Navy. Their caskets, draped in the national flag, were carried out by fellow sailors after a solemn farewell that included eulogies, a rifle salute, and flowers placed by grieving families. Adm. Yang Yong-mo, Navy chief of staff, choked up as he read the roll call of the fallen, vowing, 'Their sacrifice will not be forgotten. We will protect our seas and take care of their families as our own.' The mother of officer Kang clung to his casket, crying out, 'Why are you leaving your mother behind?' Cmdr. Park's young son was seen playing quietly near his father's casket before bursting into tears. Three of the officers were buried later that day at South Korea's National Cemetery in Daejeon. Lt. Cmdr. Lee was laid to rest at the Yeongcheon National Cemetery, near his hometown. The crashed aircraft, tail No. 100917, was originally built for the US Navy in 1967 and later refurbished for South Korea. According to footage released by the military, the plane sharply banked before spiraling into the ground nose-first. Investigators have recovered the cockpit voice recorder and are looking into possible mechanical failure, though external factors like bird strikes have not been ruled out. The Navy has grounded its entire P-3 fleet for special safety inspections.
Korea Herald
30-05-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
No emergency communication occurred before fatal patrol plane crash: Navy
Crew members aboard a maritime patrol aircraft that fatally crashed earlier this week had no communication, suggesting an emergency situation with the ground control tower, the Navy said Friday. A Navy P-3CK patrol plane crashed on a mountain in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, at 1:49 p.m. Thursday, six minutes after taking off for routine training from a nearby air base, killing all four Navy officers aboard. No civilian casualties were reported. "The last communication between the control tower and the aircraft occurred at 1:48 p.m., and there were no details indicating an emergency situation," the Navy said. The armed service plans to determine the cause of the accident by comprehensively analyzing the aircraft's track data, sound clips recorded on a cockpit voice recorder and debris of the aircraft. Following an on-site probe, the Navy plans to transfer the wreckage of the aircraft to the Naval Air Command and conduct a joint investigation with civilian experts. A Navy official said authorities will carry out the investigation without ruling out any possible causes, including a bird strike, turbulence or a sudden change in the weather. As part of response measures, the Navy also plans to conduct a special safety inspection of all P-3 maritime patrol aircraft, which have been grounded following the accident. A funeral process for the four Navy officers will begin later Friday. They will be laid to rest at Daejeon National Cemetery on Sunday. (Yonhap)
