USKF air defense redeployment raises concerns over South Korea’s high-altitude missile defense
U.S. Forces Korea personnel operate heavy equipment at a Patriot (PAC-3) surface-to-air missile battery at Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on March 5. Newsis
Air defense assets such as Patriot and THAAD systems may be redeployed to the Middle East amid rising tensions with Iran, leaving South Korean concerned over its air defense
President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that the redeployment of some air defense assets from U.S. Forces Korea “won’t hinder deterrence against North Korea.”
But concerns are growing that South Korea’s air defense could be left vulnerable after international media reported that the U.S. may redeploy not only Patriot PAC-3 — a low-altitude air defense system the South Korean military had expected might be moved — but also elements of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.
A day earlier, the Washington Post quoted two U.S. officials saying the U.S. military is relocating some components of the THAAD system to the Middle East. The move, according to the officials, is intended as a precaution in case Iranian retaliatory attacks escalate again.
Unlike the Patriot system, which South Korea can partially replace with its own air defense assets, THAAD has no comparable domestic alternative. Experts warn that prolonged tensions in the Middle East could deepen security vulnerabilities on the Korean Peninsula.
So far, assets within U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) known to have been or expected to be redeployed include the Patriot missile defense system, guided bomb kits and the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System, according to multiple military sources.
Flight tracking websites show that since the start of U.S. strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, U.S. military transport aircrafts, including C-16 planes as well as the much larger C-5 and C-17 have repeatedly landed at and departed from Osan Air Base.
The aircraft have previously been used to transport missile defense systems. During Operation “Midnight Hammer” last June, C-17 planes carried Patriot batteries when the U.S. carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
The arrival and departure of the even larger C-5 aircraft at Osan Air Base is seen as unusual, raising speculation that the U.S. may be pulling out more Patriot batteries than it did last June — or possibly elements of the THAAD system.
But military experts say it is unlikely that the THAAD radar has been redeployed, as removing it would render the entire battery unusable. It is more likely that only some launchers and interceptor missiles were moved.
“Once the entire battery and radar are pulled out, it becomes a major risk to bring them back, both physically and politically,” said Yang Uk, a researcher at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies. “There is a possibility that only some launchers were withdrawn.”
U.S. military transport aircraft including C-5 and C-17 planes are seen parked at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on March 6. Yonhap
No high-altitude alternative to THAAD
While President Lee said the movement of USFK assets would not undermine deterrence against North Korea, if THAAD batteries are redeployed, it could create a gap in the peninsula’s air defenses.
South Korea can currently replace Patriot batteries with the domestically developed Cheongung-II system for low- and medium-altitude interception. For high-altitude missile defense above about 100 km, the country relies entirely on the THAAD system, which can intercept ballistic missiles at altitudes between 40 km and 150 km.
South Korea’s newly developed high-altitude interceptor, L-SAM, is scheduled to enter service next year, but concern remains that a security gap could widen if the crisis in the Middle East drags on.
Some observers also see the possibility that USFK assets could be pulled out more frequently in the future, especially as the U.S. emphasizes “alliance modernization.” While the permanent withdrawal of USFK from Korea requires negotiations between Korea and the U.S., temporary redeployments of some assets can be carried out with unilateral notice.
“We are expressing opposition to USFK taking some of its assets out due to the needs of other military operations,” President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday.
“But it is also a reality that we cannot have everything done according to our will.”
Some also view this as a U.S. demonstration of its policy of strategic flexibility, and suggest that assets stationed in other regions could be deployed to the Korean Peninsula when needed.
“The redeployment sends a meaningful message, in that military capabilities can be reinforced on the Korean Peninsula in the event of a crisis.” said Shin Beom-chul, a senior researcher at the Sejong Institute.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.