South Korea and the United States during talks on Monday revised a bilateral security agreement aimed at deterring North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats, South Korea's defence ministry said.

The Tailored Deterrence Strategy (TDS) is aimed at countering North Korea's nuclear weapons and other arms, according to an announcement on the agreement by the two countries 10 years ago.

South Korea's Defence Minister Shin Won-sik and his U.S. counterpart, Lloyd Austin, signed the updated agreement at the security talks in Seoul, the ministry said.

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The revision was considered necessary because the existing strategy did not adequately address rapid advancements in North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, it said.

The Defence Ministry did not immediately specify what had been updated.

Earlier, South Korea's defence ministry said Shin and Austin would discuss jointly countering threats by North Korea, including through executing an "extended deterrence" strategy.

The strategy, which holds that the United States will use strategic military assets, including nuclear forces, to defend its allies, has taken on a greater significance as North Korea pushes ahead with its ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

Shin said the two countries have been upgrading security cooperation, including the launch of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) and bolstering the execution of the extended deterrence strategy, Yonhap News reported.

The nuclear discussions are aimed at better coordinating an allied nuclear response during a war with North Korea.

Shin on Monday cited expanded military drills with the United States in recent months as an indication of upgraded strategic cooperation, including the involvement of U.S. strategic bombers and a nuclear ballistic missile submarine, Yonhap reported.

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Recent changes in North Korean and Chinese capabilities and intentions are likely to "dramatically" increase the risk that U.S. and South Korean deterrence could fail within the next decade, and the allies must undertake major steps to strengthen deterrence, the Atlantic Council think tank said in a study last week.

That study, which convened more than 100 experts, found that although an all-out nuclear attack is the least likely scenario, Pyongyang could feel emboldened to escalate with more limited military actions, including possible nuclear strikes.

The Israel-Hamas war and Russia's invasion of Ukraine also cast a shadow over Monday's meeting amid Pyongyang's growing military cooperation with Moscow and questions about the North's support for Hamas militants.

On Sunday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said at a dinner that the allies must stand ready for any provocations by North Korea, including a "Hamas-style surprise attack".

At the reception, Austin reaffirmed that the U.S. commitment to defending South Korea involved the full range of American military capabilities, Yoon's office said.

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The defence meetings come as North Korea is believed to be preparing to launch a military reconnaissance satellite after two failures.

Pyongyang is also accused of shipping munitions to Russia for use in the war with Ukraine in return for technical support to help its weapons programs.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a recent summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that Russia would help North Korea build satellites, but did not elaborate.

The defence chiefs from South Korea, Japan and the United States agreed on Sunday to start a real-time data-sharing scheme on North Korean missiles in December, South Korea's defence ministry said.

South Korea and the United States during talks on Monday revised a bilateral security agreement aimed at deterring North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats, South Korea's defence ministry said.

South Korea and the United States during talks on Monday revised a bilateral security agreement aimed at deterring North Korea's advancing nuclear and missile threats, South Korea's defence ministry said. The Tailored Deterrence Strategy (TDS) is aimed at countering North Korea's nuclear weapons and other arms, according to an announcement on the agreement by the two countries 10 years ago. South Korea's Defence Minister Shin Won-sik and his U.S. counterpart, Lloyd Austin, signed the updated agreement at the security talks in Seoul, the ministry said. Also Read | Jewish school in Canada’s Montreal targeted by gunfire for second time in a week The revision was considered necessary because the existing strategy did not adequately address rapid advancements in North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, it said. The Defence Ministry did not immediately specify what had been updated. Earlier, South Korea's defence ministry said Shin and Austin would discuss jointly countering threats by North Korea, including through executing an "extended deterrence" strategy. The strategy, which holds that the United States will use strategic military assets, including nuclear forces, to defend its allies, has taken on a greater significance as North Korea pushes ahead with its ballistic missile and nuclear programs. Shin said the two countries have been upgrading security cooperation, including the launch of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) and bolstering the execution of the extended deterrence strategy, Yonhap News reported. The nuclear discussions are aimed at better coordinating an allied nuclear response during a war with North Korea. Shin on Monday cited expanded military drills with the United States in recent months as an indication of upgraded strategic cooperation, including the involvement of U.S. strategic bombers and a nuclear ballistic missile submarine, Yonhap reported. Also Read | Five US service members killed after military aircraft crashes during training in Mediterranean Sea Recent changes in North Korean and Chinese capabilities and intentions are likely to "dramatically" increase the risk that U.S. and South Korean deterrence could fail within the next decade, and the allies must undertake major steps to strengthen deterrence, the Atlantic Council think tank said in a study last week. That study, which convened more than 100 experts, found that although an all-out nuclear attack is the least likely scenario, Pyongyang could feel emboldened to escalate with more limited military actions, including possible nuclear strikes. The Israel-Hamas war and Russia's invasion of Ukraine also cast a shadow over Monday's meeting amid Pyongyang's growing military cooperation with Moscow and questions about the North's support for Hamas militants. On Sunday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said at a dinner that the allies must stand ready for any provocations by North Korea, including a "Hamas-style surprise attack". At the reception, Austin reaffirmed that the U.S. commitment to defending South Korea involved the full range of American military capabilities, Yoon's office said. Also Read | Jaishankar extends Diwali greetings to Rishi Sunak, gifts Lord Ganesha idol and Kohli-signed bat The defence meetings come as North Korea is believed to be preparing to launch a military reconnaissance satellite after two failures. Pyongyang is also accused of shipping munitions to Russia for use in the war with Ukraine in return for technical support to help its weapons programs. Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a recent summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that Russia would help North Korea build satellites, but did not elaborate. The defence chiefs from South Korea, Japan and the United States agreed on Sunday to start a real-time data-sharing scheme on North Korean missiles in December, South Korea's defence ministry said.

US, South Korea revise deterrence strategy over North Korea's nuclear threat

South Korea on Monday banned sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North, in a move rights activists condemned as a violation of free speech and a "misguided strategy" to please the North Korean regime.

Activist groups have long sent flyers critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over human rights abuses and his nuclear ambitions across the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, either flying them by hot air balloon or floating them across rivers.

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The leaflets have infuriated Pyongyang, which issued a series of vitriolic condemnations earlier this year demanding Seoul take action and upped the pressure by blowing up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border.

The leader's sister and key adviser Kim Yo Jong called the defector activists behind the campaign "human scum hardly worth their value as human beings".

South Korea's parliament passed a law criminalising sending leaflets, USB drives -- a favoured method of distributing information and entertainment -- or money to the North with all 187 MPs in attendance approving the bill.

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President Moon Jae-in has long championed engagement with the North and his Democratic party has an absolute majority in the 300-member assembly, while all members of the conservative opposition People Power Party boycotted the vote.

Under the measure, those convicted of sending leaflets face a maximum penalty of three years in prison or a fine of 30 million won ($28,000).

- 'A barbaric act' - 
Park Sang-hak, the chairman of Fighters for a Free North Korea, one of the leaflet-sending groups, was defiant and vowed to continue their activities.

"I do not accept this as a rightful law and will continue doing what I've been doing: delivering a message of freedom to 25 million people across the border," he told AFP.

"North Korea stands as the only country on Earth that completely shuts its people off from the internet," he added. "This criminalisation is a barbaric act that violates their right to know the truth."

New York-based Human Rights Watch had called on parliament to reject the proposal, saying it would violate freedom of expression and turn humanitarian activity into a "criminal offence".

Seoul "seems more interested in keeping North Korea's Kim Jong Un happy than letting its own citizens exercise their basic rights on behalf of their northern neighbours," John Sifton, the group's Asia advocacy director, said in a statement. &nbsp;

Both Koreas used to regularly send leaflets to the other side, but agreed to stop such propaganda activities -- including loudspeaker broadcasts along the frontier -- in the Panmunjom Declaration signed by Moon and Kim and at their first summit in 2018.

But in the South civilian groups, mainly led by defectors, continued their anti-Kim activity in border areas.&nbsp;

Provocative depictions of leader Kim's spouse Ri Sol Ju sparked "serious outrage" and served as the "last straw" for Pyongyang, Russian ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora told the TASS news agency in June.&nbsp;

South Korean residents in the border areas had for years asked the authorities to ban the activity, fearing military action by the North against the launch sites.&nbsp;

Inter-Korean relations have been in the deep freeze following the collapse of a summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump early last year over what the nuclear-armed North would be willing to give up in exchange for a loosening of sanctions.&nbsp;

South Korea on Monday banned sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North, in a move rights activists condemned as a violation of free speech and a "misguided strategy" to please the North Korean regime.

South Korea on Monday banned sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets into the North, in a move rights activists condemned as a violation of free speech and a "misguided strategy" to please the North Korean regime. Activist groups have long sent flyers critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over human rights abuses and his nuclear ambitions across the Demilitarized Zone that divides the peninsula, either flying them by hot air balloon or floating them across rivers. Also read| Eight countries, including US, denounce human rights record in North Korea The leaflets have infuriated Pyongyang, which issued a series of vitriolic condemnations earlier this year demanding Seoul take action and upped the pressure by blowing up an inter-Korean liaison office on its side of the border. The leader's sister and key adviser Kim Yo Jong called the defector activists behind the campaign "human scum hardly worth their value as human beings". South Korea's parliament passed a law criminalising sending leaflets, USB drives -- a favoured method of distributing information and entertainment -- or money to the North with all 187 MPs in attendance approving the bill. Also read| Protests erupt as South Korea’s most notorious rapist walks free President Moon Jae-in has long championed engagement with the North and his Democratic party has an absolute majority in the 300-member assembly, while all members of the conservative opposition People Power Party boycotted the vote. Under the measure, those convicted of sending leaflets face a maximum penalty of three years in prison or a fine of 30 million won ($28,000). - 'A barbaric act' - Park Sang-hak, the chairman of Fighters for a Free North Korea, one of the leaflet-sending groups, was defiant and vowed to continue their activities. "I do not accept this as a rightful law and will continue doing what I've been doing: delivering a message of freedom to 25 million people across the border," he told AFP. "North Korea stands as the only country on Earth that completely shuts its people off from the internet," he added. "This criminalisation is a barbaric act that violates their right to know the truth." New York-based Human Rights Watch had called on parliament to reject the proposal, saying it would violate freedom of expression and turn humanitarian activity into a "criminal offence". Seoul "seems more interested in keeping North Korea's Kim Jong Un happy than letting its own citizens exercise their basic rights on behalf of their northern neighbours," John Sifton, the group's Asia advocacy director, said in a statement. Both Koreas used to regularly send leaflets to the other side, but agreed to stop such propaganda activities -- including loudspeaker broadcasts along the frontier -- in the Panmunjom Declaration signed by Moon and Kim and at their first summit in 2018. But in the South civilian groups, mainly led by defectors, continued their anti-Kim activity in border areas. Provocative depictions of leader Kim's spouse Ri Sol Ju sparked "serious outrage" and served as the "last straw" for Pyongyang, Russian ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora told the TASS news agency in June. South Korean residents in the border areas had for years asked the authorities to ban the activity, fearing military action by the North against the launch sites. Inter-Korean relations have been in the deep freeze following the collapse of a summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump early last year over what the nuclear-armed North would be willing to give up in exchange for a loosening of sanctions.

South Korea bans sending leaflets into North

South Korea warned on Sunday of possible North Korean assassinations and kidnappings in revenge for recent high-profile defections to the South. 
 
With tensions also high before a large-scale South Korea-US military exercise starting from Monday, the Unification Ministry in Seoul said Pyongyang was bent on provocation. 
 
A ministry official told reporters the defection to Seoul of North Korea&#39;s deputy ambassador to Britain and his family had put the North in &quot;a very difficult situation&quot;. 
 
&quot;Considering (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-Un&#39;s character, it is very dangerous,&quot; the official said on condition of anonymity. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s highly likely that North Korea will make various attempts to prevent further defections and unrest among its people.&quot; 
 
The official cited assassination attempts and terror attacks against defectors in the South as well as the abduction of South Koreans abroad as possible provocations. 
 
He noted attempts to assassinate Hwang Jang-Yop, the North&#39;s chief ideologue and former tutor to previous leader Kim Jong-Il, who defected to the South in 1997 and died of natural causes in 2010. 
 
The official also said Kim Jong-Un had dispatched squads to the Chinese border &quot;to harm South Koreans&quot; following the defection in April of a group of North Korean overseas restaurant workers. 
 
Deputy ambassador Thae Yong-Ho was believed to have worked at the embassy in London for 10 years before his defection announced last week. 
 
The South said he was driven by disgust for the Pyongyang regime, admiration for South Korea&#39;s free and democratic system and concerns for his family&#39;s future. 
 
North Korea, in a vitriolic response Saturday, claimed that the &quot;human scum&quot; had embezzled state funds, raped a minor and spied for the South and had fled &quot;for fear of legal punishment for his crimes&quot;. 
 
The 12 waitresses and their manager had been working at a North Korea-themed restaurant in China. They made headlines when they arrived in the South in April as the largest group defection for years. 
 
While Seoul said they fled voluntarily, Pyongyang claimed they were kidnapped by South Korea&rsquo;s National Intelligence Service and waged a vocal campaign through its state media -- including interviews with family members -- for their return. 
 
Mean Plot 
 
Seoul said last week the 13-strong group was now free to settle in South Korean society after the intelligence service completed investigations into their case and allowed them to leave custody. 
 
A spokesman for the North&#39;s emergency committee set up for &quot;rescuing&quot; abductees described that announcement as a &quot;mean plot&quot; aimed at &quot;covering up the truth behind the group abduction&quot;. 
 
&quot;Keeping them hidden from the public... citing &#39;safety reasons&#39; shows that the puppet government&#39;s announcement is a complete fabrication,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;We will continue fighting until we can rescue and bring back our female citizens.&quot; 
 
Nearly 30,000 North Koreans have fled poverty and repression at home to settle in the capitalist South. 
 
But group defections are rare, especially by staff who work in the North Korea-themed restaurants overseas and are handpicked from families considered &quot;loyal&quot; to the regime. 
 
On Monday Seoul and Washington begin their annual joint Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercise involving tens of thousands of troops. 
 
&quot;With the start of the UFG drills tomorrow, we ask all citizens to be on guard for North Korean terror threats and cooperate with the government&#39;s efforts,&quot; said the unification ministry official. 
 
The two-week drill is one of a number of annual joint exercises viewed as provocative rehearsals for invasion by Pyongyang. 
 
On Sunday a spokesman for North Korea&#39;s Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said Pyongyang&#39;s determination to retaliate &quot;will only grow stronger&quot; if such exercises continue. 
 
&quot;It is our firm position that we will mercilessly attack the threats of invasion and provocation from the enemies with our nuclear deterrence,&quot; the spokesman said in a statement on the North&#39;s official KCNA news agency. 
 
(AFP)

The attacks would be revenge for recent high-profile defections to the South

South Korea warned on Sunday of possible North Korean assassinations and kidnappings in revenge for recent high-profile defections to the South. With tensions also high before a large-scale South Korea-US military exercise starting from Monday, the Unification Ministry in Seoul said Pyongyang was bent on provocation. A ministry official told reporters the defection to Seoul of North Korea's deputy ambassador to Britain and his family had put the North in "a very difficult situation". "Considering (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-Un's character, it is very dangerous," the official said on condition of anonymity. "It's highly likely that North Korea will make various attempts to prevent further defections and unrest among its people." The official cited assassination attempts and terror attacks against defectors in the South as well as the abduction of South Koreans abroad as possible provocations. He noted attempts to assassinate Hwang Jang-Yop, the North's chief ideologue and former tutor to previous leader Kim Jong-Il, who defected to the South in 1997 and died of natural causes in 2010. The official also said Kim Jong-Un had dispatched squads to the Chinese border "to harm South Koreans" following the defection in April of a group of North Korean overseas restaurant workers. Deputy ambassador Thae Yong-Ho was believed to have worked at the embassy in London for 10 years before his defection announced last week. The South said he was driven by disgust for the Pyongyang regime, admiration for South Korea's free and democratic system and concerns for his family's future. North Korea, in a vitriolic response Saturday, claimed that the "human scum" had embezzled state funds, raped a minor and spied for the South and had fled "for fear of legal punishment for his crimes". The 12 waitresses and their manager had been working at a North Korea-themed restaurant in China. They made headlines when they arrived in the South in April as the largest group defection for years. While Seoul said they fled voluntarily, Pyongyang claimed they were kidnapped by South Korea’s National Intelligence Service and waged a vocal campaign through its state media -- including interviews with family members -- for their return. Mean Plot Seoul said last week the 13-strong group was now free to settle in South Korean society after the intelligence service completed investigations into their case and allowed them to leave custody. A spokesman for the North's emergency committee set up for "rescuing" abductees described that announcement as a "mean plot" aimed at "covering up the truth behind the group abduction". "Keeping them hidden from the public... citing 'safety reasons' shows that the puppet government's announcement is a complete fabrication," he said. "We will continue fighting until we can rescue and bring back our female citizens." Nearly 30,000 North Koreans have fled poverty and repression at home to settle in the capitalist South. But group defections are rare, especially by staff who work in the North Korea-themed restaurants overseas and are handpicked from families considered "loyal" to the regime. On Monday Seoul and Washington begin their annual joint Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercise involving tens of thousands of troops. "With the start of the UFG drills tomorrow, we ask all citizens to be on guard for North Korean terror threats and cooperate with the government's efforts," said the unification ministry official. The two-week drill is one of a number of annual joint exercises viewed as provocative rehearsals for invasion by Pyongyang. On Sunday a spokesman for North Korea's Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said Pyongyang's determination to retaliate "will only grow stronger" if such exercises continue. "It is our firm position that we will mercilessly attack the threats of invasion and provocation from the enemies with our nuclear deterrence," the spokesman said in a statement on the North's official KCNA news agency. (AFP)

South Korea warns of possible North Korean assassinations, kidnappings

North Korea test-fired three ballistic missiles today, South Korea&#39;s military said, just over a week after issuing threats to respond to the planned deployment of a US anti-missile system in the South. 
 
The missiles, launched early today from the western city of Hwangju, flew between 500 and 600 kilometres (311-373 miles) toward the Sea of Japan, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) said in a press statement. 
 
The range of what were believed to be SCUD missiles could reach anywhere in South Korea, the JCS said, adding the military was keeping close tabs on the North&#39;s movement. 
 
North Korea last week threatened to take &quot;physical action&quot; after Washington and Seoul announced plans to deploy a sophisticated US anti-missile defence system to counter the growing menace from Pyongyang. 
 
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, will be deployed in Seongju county by the end of next year. 
 
An unidentified military official said that today&#39;s launch was believed to be linked to the North&#39;s latest threats. 
 
&quot;SCUDs are a weapon that the North is most likely to use to hit places like Seongju&quot;, the official said, according to Yonhap news agency. 
 
The North had previously launched relatively short-ranged SCUDs in March, as it flexed its muscles in response to joint US-South Korea military drills just south of the border. 
 
North Korea reportedly has some 600 SCUDs, developed in the former Soviet Union and modified by Pyongyang, whose ranges are estimated to be somewhere between 300 and 700 kilometres. 
 
Tensions have soared since Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a series of missile launches that analysts say shows that the North is making progress toward being able to strike the US mainland. 
 
Both South Korean and US troops stationed in the South have Patriot anti-air defence systems that can intercept enemy missiles at low altitudes. 
 
Alongside the Patriot systems, the THAAD system is necessary to form a multi-layered anti-air defence system, South Korean military authorities say. 
 
The announcement to deploy the THAAD system in Seongju sparked fierce protests by residents who are concerned it will ruin the town&#39;s economic main stay, melon farming, and create health and environmental hazards. 
 
(AFP)

The launch comes a week after issuing threats to respond to the planned deployment of a United States anti-missile system in South Korea

North Korea test-fired three ballistic missiles today, South Korea's military said, just over a week after issuing threats to respond to the planned deployment of a US anti-missile system in the South. The missiles, launched early today from the western city of Hwangju, flew between 500 and 600 kilometres (311-373 miles) toward the Sea of Japan, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JSC) said in a press statement. The range of what were believed to be SCUD missiles could reach anywhere in South Korea, the JCS said, adding the military was keeping close tabs on the North's movement. North Korea last week threatened to take "physical action" after Washington and Seoul announced plans to deploy a sophisticated US anti-missile defence system to counter the growing menace from Pyongyang. The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, or THAAD, will be deployed in Seongju county by the end of next year. An unidentified military official said that today's launch was believed to be linked to the North's latest threats. "SCUDs are a weapon that the North is most likely to use to hit places like Seongju", the official said, according to Yonhap news agency. The North had previously launched relatively short-ranged SCUDs in March, as it flexed its muscles in response to joint US-South Korea military drills just south of the border. North Korea reportedly has some 600 SCUDs, developed in the former Soviet Union and modified by Pyongyang, whose ranges are estimated to be somewhere between 300 and 700 kilometres. Tensions have soared since Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a series of missile launches that analysts say shows that the North is making progress toward being able to strike the US mainland. Both South Korean and US troops stationed in the South have Patriot anti-air defence systems that can intercept enemy missiles at low altitudes. Alongside the Patriot systems, the THAAD system is necessary to form a multi-layered anti-air defence system, South Korean military authorities say. The announcement to deploy the THAAD system in Seongju sparked fierce protests by residents who are concerned it will ruin the town's economic main stay, melon farming, and create health and environmental hazards. (AFP)

North Korea test-fires three ballistic missiles