South Korea Emerges as a Major Player in Global Defense Exports

After its partition and the failed invasion of the South, the hermit kingdom of North Korea has become the most militarized and headline state on Earth. Allocating citizen’s funds directed to hereditary autocracy, Pyongyang has amassed one of the world’s largest militaries with vast artillery stocks and nuclear weapons. The increasingly rogue actions have even made traditional allies like China concerned.

Despite not having a military the size of the North, South Korea has made strides to prepare for another potential showdown. Not only having a permanent American military presence as deterrence, but the rising defense industry of Seoul has also put the South at the forefront of geopolitics that the Kim regime cannot compete with.

Background

When the Korean War ensued, Pyongyang was heavily armed by the Soviet Union and China, with most of those Cold War era stockpiles remaining in their service today. Under Kim Jong Un, the North has indiscriminately fired ballistic missiles as a show of force, with some flying directly over Japan to international condemnation. Already isolated, the North continued to be a pariah and was only seen as a useful buffer against a pro-democratic Korea by the CCP. The South would immediately take advantage of the Kim regime’s failed foreign policies.

South Korea, originally a dictatorship with a dark history, quickly transitioned itself late into the Cold War and became a democratic and technological powerhouse. Today, the country has become a major weapons exporter, which has increased its geopolitical status.

Self-Sustaining Capabilities

With a focus on research, development, and combating threats of not just the North but allies as well, the South’s defense industry has boomed over the past several years. One major customer of South Korea happens to be Poland, which also reassessed its national security with Russia’s attempted imperial conquest of Ukraine. With contracts worth over $12 billion, Warsaw has purchased a variety of military technology, such as the FA50s aircraft, K9 howitzers, and highly efficient K2 tanks.

After weeks of political gridlock in NATO, Germany gave the green light to fellow NATO members to send the Leopard tanks. Switzerland has also vetoed weapons produced with their components from reaching Ukraine—but this showed a flaw in Europe’s defense practices that South Korea looks to take advantage of in the future.

Bureaucratic practices with regard to weapon sales and use have become time-consuming, especially in a wartime environment in Ukraine, where the timing of military transfers and sales could mean life or death in the world’s largest conventional conflict since the Iran-Iraq War. East Asian nations such as South Korea and Japan have studied the response to these practices and have taken the initiative to bolster themselves to not be caught off guard by threats.

South Korea Provides a Fail-Safe for the West

South Korea could become an eventual alternative to Germany’s defense industry in Europe, with states now realizing they may face political gridlock in weapons sales with Berlin’s government at a crossroads. Turkey, which has seen embargoes against it by other NATO members, has also become a major customer of Seoul, as both nations have become at the forefront of defense exports over the past several years.

Already tapping into their vast stockpiles meant for Seoul, the U.S. has shown the Republic why it should continue growing capabilities going forward. Though SK has only provided non-lethal aid while the Kim Regime has quietly armed Wagner and Russian Forces, the South has gained even more allies to enhance capabilities while the North remains stagnant.

Promoting its geopolitical status as a vital nation in the global economy cannot be underestimated, as South Korea by far has more recognition as the legitimate Korea. In contrast, North Korea remains a pariah, relying on diplomatic help from dictatorships such as Iran and Syria just to survive. China, which placated Pyongyang over Seoul in the 50s, trades more with the South, whereas the North has become a resource drain on Beijing.

Recently, North Korea has resorted to even more saber rattling and unilateral nuclear tests. Like Putin, Kim has repeatedly used the nuclear bluff card to blackmail the world into giving in to his demands with no success. The U.S. would clarify its mutual defense pact with South Korea, with Secretary of Defense Austin stating that American forces would use all means available to defend Seoul, even nuclear forces.

Already a top ten weapons exporter, the Republic of Korea is set on emerging within the top five in this field in the upcoming years. With traditional defense exporters lacking and being caught off guard due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Seoul has a chance to gain an edge in the global economy and international community that Pyongyang cannot compete with.