Last week, the South Korean government approved a major development proposal for advanced missile interceptor systems to counter the evolving military threats from North Korea and strengthen its national defense capabilities.

Since the beginning of fiscal year 2023, Seoul has made the strategic response to Pyongyang’s ballistic missile threats one of its top priorities. To this end, South Korea has been expanding its “Three-Axis” system, which it introduced in the mid-2010s after North Korea’s fifth nuclear test in 2016. This system, which shares some similarities with the US nuclear triad, employs a combination of cutting-edge military assets, including F-35 fighter aircraft, reconnaissance satellites, air defense systems, and ballistic missiles. Furthermore, it seeks to enhance South Korea’s defense capacity against potential missile attacks from the North.

The “Three-Axis” system consists of three components: “Kill Chain,” “Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD),” and “Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR).” “Kill Chain” is a preemptive strike system designed to destroy incoming weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) before they reach their targets across the South Korean territory and population. “KAMD” is a multi-layered missile defense system that intercepts and destroys incoming missiles. Lastly, “KMPR” is a counteroffensive system that involves launching a massive retaliation primarily targeting North Korean leadership, including supreme leader Kim Jong-un, in response to a significant military provocation or WMD attack.

South’s Ramping Up Its Defense Capabilities

Seoul currently lacks a hypersonic ballistic missile defense system. But, nevertheless, has several capable systems in place, including the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3) system, and Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system, which can counter and destroy incoming missiles from North Korea or other potential adversaries. However, the recent announcement of approving a plan to pursue a long-range missile defense system marks a significant milestone for South Korea’s effort to strengthen its national defense capabilities. This move underscores the country’s commitment to enhancing its military readiness and addressing the evolving threats posed by North Korea’s missile programs.

According to Yonhap News Agency, citing the country’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) report, the South Korean government has set aside about 2.71 trillion Korean won ($2.03 billion) to develop a long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM) II defense system, which will take place between 2024 to 2035.

The news agency also noted that the system will have interceptors capable of chasing high-altitude and glide-phase targets such as hypersonic missiles—a favorite weapon the North has been trying to develop in recent years. A glide-phase feature could be particularly effective in countering Pyongyang’s weapons, as it can intercept advanced missiles that follow unpredictable trajectories, unlike conventional ballistic missiles that follow a curved path.

Compared to its still underdeveloped predecessor, the deployment of the L-SAM II system is expected to triple the defense range of the South. The first L-SAM variant has an estimated intercept altitude range of around 40-100 km (25 to 62 mi) and is likely to arrive sometime in the mid-2020s.

L-SAM
L-SAM system radar (Image source: Yonhap News Agency)

In addition, the DAPA endorsed a 2.83 trillion won ($2.10 billion) plan to develop the mid-range surface-to-air missile (M-SAM) Block III system, scheduled to run beginning next year through 2034, to supplement the L-SAM II. Similarly, the committee seeks the M-SAM Block III system to improve interception performance and engagement capabilities compared to the current Block II variant.

DAPA said that “[t]hrough this project, we expect to enhance deterrence capabilities against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and contribute to the advancement of the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system,” as quoted by Yonhap.

Further details about the program are not available and are likely to be classified. However, DAPA noted that aside from intercepting the North’s growing ballistic missile threats, the South Korean military also seeks to increase its capabilities in fending off other hostile artillery strikes, short-range missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) through this upcoming advanced defense system.

North’s Criticism Of US-South Korea Alliance Renewed

North Korea’s state-owned media outlet, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), has reported that the government in Pyongyang has expressed yet another disagreement, this time regarding a recent deal signed between the US and South Korea during a summit meeting.

US President Joe Biden met his South Korean counterpart, Yoon Suk Yeol, at a summit last week to discuss the latter country’s defense and deterrence strategies.

At the summit, US President Joe Biden met with his South Korean counterpart, Yoon Suk Yeol, to discuss the latter country’s defense and deterrence strategies. In light of rising tensions with North Korea’s aggressive pursuit of expanding its weapons program, Biden pledged to provide Seoul with more insights into its nuclear planning, as reported by Reuters.

Furthermore, the deal includes a scheduled visit from one of the US Navy’s nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines, marking its first visit since the 1980s. However, the announcement of the visit, and perhaps the entire summit itself, has triggered North Korea and once again reiterated “the allies’ willingness to take the most hostile and aggressive action against it.”

KCNA claimed that the recent deal signed by Washington and Seoul is an attempt to avoid taking responsibility for the nuclear-related crimes that the US has committed. It also accused the Western superpower of systematically violating the nuclear non-proliferation system and “pushing the situation of the Korean Peninsula to the brink of a nuclear war.”

KCNA further claimed that the US is pursuing a “hegemonic agenda” to turn South Korea into its largest nuclear war outpost in the Far East and to use it for its global domination strategy.

Besides the blasts from the North Korean government, its youths and students rallied to criticize the recent meeting and to denounce the allies’ extended deterrence against their country.

Yonhap News Agency said, citing a KCNA report, that these youngsters conducted a protest in the western region of North Korea, calling out the allies as “invaders and provocateurs.”

Like the earlier report by Pyongyang’s state-owned media, the protest slammed the summit meeting and urged for a “stern punishment” regarding the signed deterrence deal.

—

Looking for a comprehensive history of the Korean War? Check out “The Korean War: A History (Modern Library Chronicles)” by Bruce Cumings here!