South Korea accelerating development of advanced weapons systems

Streaks of light are seen as Israel's Iron Dome anti-missile system intercepts rockets launched from the Gaza Strip toward Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel, May 12. On June 28, the South Korean military announced that it would launch a project to develop a South Korean version of the Iron Dome system next year, aiming to complete it by around 2035. Reuters-Yonhap

Korean version of Iron Dome, SLBMs under development

By Jung Da-min

South Korea is accelerating the development of advanced weapons systems to strengthen its deterrence against possible military threats, mainly from North Korea.

On June 28, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced that it would launch the development of a South Korean version of Israel's Iron Dome system next year, aiming to complete it by around 2035, reducing the development period by two or more years. In August of last year, the military unveiled a long-term project to develop an interceptor system that could target North Korea's Scud-type or more powerful missiles.

Along with the interceptor system, South Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) technology also drew attention following media reports saying the military has recently succeeded in a test launch of its SLBM from an underwater platform. The military declined to comment, although defense experts said they believe the military has succeeded in securing core SLBM technology.

But military watchers have expressed mixed responses regarding what benefits the military could see by securing such advanced weapons systems, considering the costs of development and future use after deployment.

For the Korean Iron Dome development project, DAPA allocated a 2.89 trillion won ($2.54 billion) budget. The missile and artillery-interception system is aimed at protecting the country's core facilities and military and security infrastructure by shooting down long-range artillery shells and other projectiles using guided missiles. Guided-missile launchers are installed in various locations in the capital Seoul to form an air defense network.

This photo from March 9, 2020, released by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), shows a military drill at an undisclosed location in North Korea. AP-Yonhap

North Korea has deployed about 1,000 long-range artillery pieces along the border area near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), according to the military's estimate. Among them, it is said that six battalions with 170-millimeter self-propelled guns with a range of 54 kilometers and about 10 battalions with 240-millimeter multiple rocket launchers with a range of 60 kilometers are targeting the Seoul metropolitan area directly.

Some military watchers cast doubts on the efficiency of the Iron Dome project, saying intercepting a ballistic missile flying in flank direction would not be as easy as intercepting one flying in front direction, and acquiring such advanced technologies would require huge human resources and financial investments.

But other military experts said the interceptor system is worth developing.

"The military had earlier reviewed introducing the Israeli Iron Dome system, but decided to develop its own domestically developed system instead, as South Korea has already secured related technologies," said Shin Jong-woo, a senior researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum. "The questions regarding the efficiency of the interceptor system seem to stem from the wrong expectation that it is meant to protect all areas of the capital. The interceptor system is more about protecting core military facilities."

Moon Sung-mook, a senior researcher at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, said developing the country's own interceptor system could save a lot in terms of future costs, as the nation would be able to maintain and upgrade the system after development.

"I understand that there could be criticism regarding the technology, but there is still time to advance the technology during the development process," Moon said.

South Korean submarine Dosan Ahn Chang-ho is docked at Okpo Shipyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering on Geoje Island in South Gyeongsang Province, in this Sept. 14, 2018, photo, during its launching ceremony. Joint Press Corps

Moon said he believes the military has secured "cold launch" SLBM technology, which refers to missiles being ejected from canisters before the rocket engines ignite. This is based on the fact that the military has been operating submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs). He also said that the military's 3,000-ton class submarines are likely to be equipped with launching platforms for SLBMs.

"When North Korea is also developing a 3,000-ton class submarine for SLBMs, we cannot just relax but need to have a corresponding capacity so that we could maintain war deterrence," Moon said.

But Shin said the point of having an SLBM is to mount it with a nuclear warhead, while he doubts that South Korea needs SLBMs as the country cannot possess nuclear weapons. "Without nuclear weapons, operating SLBMs would not have much effect. There are many other weapons we could use to target North Korea, as we would not need to use underwater platforms to attack a fixed target," Shin said.