On June 23, South Korea successfully test fired its Hyunmoo-2C missile from Anheung in the South Chungcheong Province. The missile has a reported range of 800km, a voluntary cap agreed to by South Korea and the United States. South Korea’s President, Moon Jae-in observed the test, commenting that it demonstrates South Korea’s “readiness” in the event of...
On June 18, South Korea reportedly completed a successful test of its new medium range surface-to-air missile (M-SAM) the Cheolmae-2. The hit-to-kill M-SAM intercepted all five dummy ballistic missile targets in the test. With development complete, the missile has been rated fit for combat. South Korea will begin mass production of the missile later this year, accelerating the timeline...
On June 7, South Korean president Moon Jae-in suspended further deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to South Korea. The move comes after revelations the South Korean Ministry of Defense failed to report to President Moon’s government the deployment of four additional THAAD launchers to the country beyond the two...
Missile threats facing both the United States and its allies in the Asia-Pacific are increasing in complexity, number, and source. In response, the Trump administration is using missile defenses to boost military capability and signal resolve, as indicated by the deployment of THAAD to South Korea...
On December 12, 2016, South Korea received 40 German Taurus KEPD 350 “bunker-buster” air-to-surface missiles. The missiles will be taken to Daegu and fitted on F-15 fighter jets in order to help arm South Korea against the North. Taurus missiles have a range of 500 km, capable of targeting buildings in North Korea from deep...
After protests to the original siting decision, South Korea has decided to move the deployment site for the American Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to near a golf course in Seongju county. An agreement to deploy the system to South Korea was made in July and soon after Seoul announced that it would...
Japan and South Korea completed a Foreign Military Sales Agreement to purchase the Aegis Baseline 9 Combat System in a deal announced August 12. The agreement will equip two Japanese Atago-class destroyers and three South Korean Sejong-class destroyers with the capability to simultaneously conduct air defense and ballistic missile defense missions. The South Korean vessels...
