Korsel Tolak Tawaran Dialog Korut

Seoul (ANTARA News) - Korea Selatan pada Senin menyatakan penolakannya atas tawaran dialog terbaru dari Korea Utara, seraya mengatakan bahwa negara itu harus dinilai berdasarkan tindakannya bukan kata-katanya.

Korut membuat penawaran resmi pada Sabtu untuk sebuah pembicaraan pembukaan dan tanpa syarat dalam beberapa minggu kedepan, sebagaimana dikutip dari AFP.

Tawaran terbaru tersebut diikuti dengan redanya ketegangan di Semenanjung Korea, yang sempat memuncak kala Korut membombardir sebuah pulau di perbatasan Korsel pada 23 November serta menewaskan empat orang, termasuk warga sipil.

Namun Kementerian Urusan Unifikasi Korsel, yang menangani hubungan lintas perbatasan, menolak upaya terbaru Korut untuk memulihkan ketegangan itu.

"Sulit menilai apakah tawaran dialog itu merupakan sesuatu yang tulus atau bukan, pertama-tama Korut sebaiknya menunjukkan dulu keseriusannya tentang denuklirisasi," kata juru bicara kementerian Chun Hae-Sung.

"Korea Utara harus mengambil langkah bertanggung jawab yang dapat diterima warga kami terkait pembombardiran November dan penenggelaman kapal Korsel pada Maret tahun lalu," katanya.

"Pintu dialog akan terbuka bila Korut telah menunjukkan sikap yang tulus," katanya.

Korsel mengatakan bahwa Korut menembakkan torpedo ke kapal mereka di perairan sengketa dekat perbatasan Laut Kuning yang merengut 46 nyawa, sebuah tuduhan yang dibantah Pyongyang.

Ketegangan antar kedua negara semakin akut sejak aksi bombardir Korut yang merupakan serangan pertama terhadap wilayah sipil Korsel sejak perang kedua negara pada 1950-1953. Korsel telah menggelar sejumlah latihan militer sebagai aksi balasan dan unjuk kekuatan.

Komite untuk Reunifikasi Perdamaian Ibu Pertiwi di Pyongyang pada Sabtu mengatakan tidak ada syarat yang diajukan Korut untuk dialog tersebut sehingga tidak perlu ada keraguan atas kesungguhan niat mereka.
(ANT/A024)

ANTARA

USS CARL VINSON CSG TO VISIT REPUBLIC OF KOREA

The USS Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (CSG) will visit the Republic of Korea (ROK) Jan. 11.

USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) will visit Busan; USS Gridley (DDG 101) and USS Stockdale (DDG 106) will visit Chinhae.

The Carl Vinson CSG is conducting a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific. While in port, the crews will participate in community service projects, as well as sporting events, with the ROK Navy.

"Regular visits to ports in this region are an important part of our presence and engagement here. We are not only allies but we've been fortunate to forge real friendships with the Korean people," said Rear Adm. Samuel Perez, Carl Vinson CSG commander. "Through the events we have planned in Busan and Chinhae, our Sailors are looking forward to learning more about this wonderful culture and strengthening an already healthy relationship."

In addition to the surface ships attached to the strike group, Carl Vinson is home to Destroyer Squadron 1 and Carrier Air Wing 17, which includes: the "Red Lions" of Helicopter Anti-submarine Squadron 15; the "Fighting Redcocks" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 22; the "Fists of the Fleet" of VFA 25; the "Sunliners" of VFA 81; the "Stingers" of VFA 113; the "Rawhides" of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 40; the "Garudas" of Electronic Attack Squadron 134; and the "Tigertails" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125.

"For many of our Sailors, this will be their first visit to a foreign land," said Perez. "We feel very fortunate that they'll be able to experience that here and build relationships they'll remember for years to come."

The U.S. Navy maintains a robust forward presence in the Asia-Pacific region, utilizing both forward deployed naval forces in Japan and Guam, as well as rotationally deployed forces from the continental United States and Hawaii.

Carrier Strike Group 1 was formally established October 1, 2009, and led Carl Vinson and Bunker Hill when the ships supported disaster response and humanitarian operations in Haiti in 2010.

This is Bunker Hill's first deployment since it underwent cruiser modernization, the first Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser to complete its mid-life modernization.

This is Stockdale's maiden deployment, and Carl Vinson's first deployment to 7th Fleet since 2005.

AMR

AUSTRALIA WELCOMES JSF RESTRUCTURE

The Acting Minister for Defence Jason Clare today welcomed the restructure of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program by US Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

The restructure follows a detailed six month Technical Baseline Review of the JSF Program's progress by the US Department of Defense to examine the remaining development tasks and the resources and time required to complete them.

The restructure will see an extension of the System Design and Development phase and a reduction in the production rate in the earlier batches of aircraft. The US will fund costs associated with extended design and test activity.

The JSF Program involves the development of three different types of aircraft:

1) the F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing (CTOL) variant;
2) the F-35B Short Take Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant; and
3) the F-35C Carrier Variant (CV).

Australia is purchasing the CTOL variant. The US Air Force is also purchasing this variant.

Secretary Gates confirmed today that this variant was on schedule and proceeding satisfactorily.

In 2010 it exceeded its test flight targets.

Secretary Gates advised that the STOVL variant being developed for the US Marines is experiencing significant testing problems and has now been placed at the back of the overall JSF production sequence.

Mr Clare welcomed the news that the development of the aircraft Australia is purchasing is on schedule and proceeding satisfactorily.

Defence has advised that the restructure of the US JSF Program will reduce overall program risk to Australia and should not affect Australia's planned introduction date for the JSF.

The Australian Government approved the acquisition of the first 14 aircraft in November 2009. The first two aircraft will be delivered in 2014. The first 10 aircraft will initially remain in the United States for pilot and maintainer training. The remaining four aircraft are planned to arrive in Australia in 2017 for operational test and evaluation activities with other ADF equipment to achieve an initial operational capability in Australia from 2018.

Defence has also advised it is confident Australia has adequate buffers in place to withstand any changes to the cost and schedule.

'Australia has always adopted a conservative approach to JSF cost estimates and has explicitly included contingency funds and buffers to the schedule,'
Mr Clare said.

recent agreement between Lockheed Martin and the US Department of Defense to move to fixed price contract agreements ' at a lower price than independent estimates ' has enhanced confidence in the costs for future JSF production.

In December last year Mr Clare met with senior US Defense officials in Washington and inspected the Lockheed Martin JSF production line in Fort Worth Texas.

AMR

BOEING DELIVERS 4 MORE SUPER HORNETS TO AUSTRALIA AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

Boeing delivered four new F/A-18F Super Hornets to Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley in December, expanding the RAAF's fleet of the advanced multirole fighters to 15. The delivery enabled the RAAF's achievement of Initial Operating Capability (IOC) with its first Super Hornet squadron, the Amberley-based No. 1.

Boeing has delivered all 15 Super Hornets to Australia ahead of schedule.
"Early delivery of our new Super Hornets at Amberley has been a vital part of our path toward IOC for our first Super Hornet squadron, which we have now achieved ahead of schedule," said RAAF Group Capt. Steve Roberton, Officer Commanding 82 Wing, which operates the Super Hornet. "As we've continued to hit our marks on time -- or early, in many instances -- with the Super Hornet program, we've enabled the RAAF to ensure Australia's regional air superiority as we transition from the F-111 and classic Hornet."

The December arrival was the third Super Hornet delivery to the base during 2010. Three aircraft in the latest delivery were prewired for potential conversion to electronic attack capability during production at Boeing facilities in St. Louis; the remaining nine aircraft in the contract will be prewired in the same way before delivery to the RAAF's No. 6 Squadron.

"The Boeing Super Hornet team has surpassed expectations by delivering 15 aircraft to the RAAF in 2010 instead of the 12 originally scheduled," said Carolyn Nichols, Australian Super Hornet program manager for Boeing. "Additionally, each aircraft has been delivered within budget. We are fully committed to ensuring the same delivery success and budget excellence throughout 2011. We congratulate the men and women of the RAAF on the outstanding achievement of reaching No. 1 Squadron's Super Hornet IOC ahead of schedule."

The Australian government announced in March 2007 that it would acquire 24 of the advanced Block II versions of the Super Hornet, all of which are equipped with the Raytheon-built APG-79 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.

The Boeing Super Hornet is a multirole aircraft, able to perform virtually every mission in the tactical spectrum, including air superiority, day/night strike with precision-guided weapons, fighter escort, close air support, suppression of enemy air defenses, maritime strike, reconnaissance, forward air control and tanker missions. Boeing has delivered more than 440 F/A-18E/Fs to the U.S. Navy. Every Super Hornet produced has been delivered on or ahead of schedule and on budget.

AMR

MALAYSIAN CHIEF OF ARMY CURRENTLY ON SINGAPORE VISIT

Malaysian Chief of Army General (GEN) Dato' Sri Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zin called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at the Ministry of Defence this morning. GEN Dato' Sri Zulkifeli, who is in Singapore from 6 to 8 Jan 2011 for his introductory visit, also called on Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Neo Kian Hong and Chief of Army Major-General Chan Chun Sing earlier today.

As part of his visit, GEN Dato' Sri Zulkifeli was at the Motorised Infantry Training Institute at Kranji Camp yesterday where he rode in a Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle. He will also be visiting Hendon Camp this afternoon, where he will tour the Parachutists' Training Facilities and be presented with the Honorary Master Parachutist Wing.

GEN Dato' Sri Zulkifeli's visit underscores the long-standing defence relations between Singapore and Malaysia. The armies of both countries interact regularly in a range of activities including professional exchanges, bilateral exercises, such as Exercise Semangat Bersatu, and multilateral exercises such as the Five Power Defence Arrangements exercises. These interactions have enhanced the mutual understanding and friendship between the personnel of both armies.

AMR

INDONESIA COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF VISITING SINGAPORE

The Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI), Admiral (ADM) Agus Suhartono, called on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at the Ministry of Defence this morning. ADM Suhartono, who is on his introductory visit to Singapore from 7 to 8 Jan 2011, also called on Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Neo Kian Hong this morning and will be calling on Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana this afternoon.

The visit by ADM Suhartono underscores the long-standing and strong defence ties between Singapore and Indonesia. The Singapore Armed Forces and the TNI interact regularly through a wide range of activities, which include visits, cross-attendance of courses, professional exchanges and bilateral exercises such as Exercise Elang Indopura, Exercise Eagle and Exercise Safkar Indopura. These extensive interactions have strengthened mutual understanding and defence ties between the two armed forces.

ADM Suhartono received the Meritorious Service Medal (Military) in September 2010, when he was the Chief of Naval Staff of the Indonesian Navy, in recognition of his outstanding contributions towards enhancing the good relations between the Indonesian Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy.

AMR

China Naval Modernization: Implications for US Navy Capabilities

The question of how the United States should respond to China’s military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, has emerged as a key issue in U.S. defense planning.
Admiral Michael Mullen, the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, stated in June 2010 that “I have moved from being curious to being genuinely concerned” about China’s military programs.
The question of how the United States should respond to China’s military modernization effort is of particular importance to the U.S. Navy, because many U.S. military programs for countering improved Chinese military forces would fall within the Navy’s budget.
Decisions that Congress and the executive branch make regarding U.S. Navy programs for countering improved Chinese maritime military capabilities could affect the likelihood or possible outcome of a potential U.S.-Chinese military conflict in the Pacific over Taiwan or some other issue. Some observers consider such a conflict to be very unlikely, in part because of significant U.S.-Chinese economic linkages and the tremendous damage that such a conflict could cause on both sides.
In the absence of such a conflict, however, the U.S.-Chinese military balance in the Pacific could nevertheless influence day-to-day choices made by other Pacific countries, including choices on whether to align their policies more closely with China or the United States.
In this sense, decisions that Congress and the executive branch make regarding U.S. Navy programs for countering improved Chinese maritime military forces could influence the political evolution of the Pacific, which in turn could affect the ability of the United States to pursue goals relating to various policy issues, both in the Pacific and elsewhere.
China’s naval modernization effort, which began in the 1990s, encompasses a broad array of weapon acquisition programs, including anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBMs), submarines, and surface ships. China’s naval modernization effort also includes reforms and improvements in maintenance and logistics, naval doctrine, personnel quality, education, training, and exercises.
The Department of Defense (DOD) and other observers believe that the near-term focus of China’s military modernization effort has been to develop military options for addressing the situation with Taiwan. Consistent with this goal, observers believe that China wants its military to be capable of acting as a so-called anti-access force—a force that can deter U.S. intervention in a conflict involving Taiwan, or failing that, delay the arrival or reduce the effectiveness of intervening U.S. naval and air forces.
DOD and other observers believe that China’s military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, is increasingly oriented toward pursuing additional goals, such as asserting or defending China’s claims in maritime territorial disputes, protecting China’s sea lines of communications, displacing U.S. influence in the Pacific, and asserting China’s status as a major world power.
Placing an increased emphasis on U.S. Navy programs for countering improved Chinese maritime military capabilities in coming years could lead to one or more of the following: developing and procuring highly capable ships, aircraft, and weapons for defeating Chinese anti-access systems; assigning a larger percentage of the Navy to the Pacific Fleet; home-porting more of the Pacific Fleet’s ships at forward locations such as Hawaii, Guam, and Japan; increasing training and exercises in operations relating to countering Chinese maritime anti-access forces, such as antisubmarine warfare (ASW) operations; and increasing activities for monitoring and understanding developments in China’s navy, as well as activities for measuring and better understanding operating conditions in the Western Pacific.

DEFENCE TALK