The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Actor Song Joong-ki still hungry for new movie roles

  • 3

    Korea has world's highest senior poverty rate: data

  • 5

    Chuseok exodus begins ahead of extended 6-day holiday

  • 7

    Seoul Welcome Week to return for first time since pandemic

  • 9

    Korean tennis player Kwon Soon-woo embroiled in controversy after 2nd-round upset

  • 11

    INTERVIEWWellington mayor's love for Korean culture spurs collaboration

  • 13

    Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene

  • 15

    INTERVIEWONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'

  • 17

    Court rejects arrest warrant for opposition leader Lee over corruption charges

  • 19

    BOK warns of worsening household debt situation

  • 2

    S. Korea flexes military might in rare parade with US in central Seoul

  • 4

    Gov't to boost Korean language education for multiethnic students

  • 6

    Guide to Chuseok celebrations across Korea

  • 8

    Hyundai Steel decides to form steel pipe unit

  • 10

    S. Korea-US alliance will end NK regime in event of nuclear weapons use, Yoon says

  • 12

    Anti-leaflet law ruled unconstitutional

  • 14

    Late Samsung chairman's love of animals helps change Korea's pet culture

  • 16

    For closer business ties between Korea, Vietnam

  • 18

    Over 100 money changers face suspensions, fines, criminal charges

  • 20

    Opposition leader Lee attends arrest warrant hearing at Seoul court

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, September 28, 2023 | 21:26
Korea to buy US THAAD missiles
軍, SM-3 대신 중고도 THAAD 체계 도입 검토
Posted : 2013-10-15 17:19
Updated : 2013-10-15 17:19
Kang Seung-woo
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By Kang Seung-woo

South Korea is seeking high-altitude, long-range missiles to counter North Korean threats, the defense ministry said Tuesday.

Despite not specifying which system to adopt, Lockheed Martin's Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) is seen as the most likely option. THAAD is designed to shoot down short- and medium-range and intermediate ballistic missiles in their terminal phase, using a hit-to-kill method.

Currently, South Korea is building an independent, low-tier missile shield called the Korea Air and Missile Defense System (KAMDS) with a plan to upgrade PAC-2 missiles to PAC-3 despite U.S. pressure to join its Ballistic Missile Defense System, aimed at intercepting intercontinental ballistic missiles.

"Our military is establishing the low-tier terminal-phase KAMDS considering the range of North Korea's incoming ballistic missiles," Ministry of National Defense spokesman Kim Min-seok said in a briefing.

"Our military is also looking into various measures to bolster the terminal phase, low-altitude defense to effectively counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats."

But he did not confirm whether South Korea is seeking to purchase THAAD.

However, a military official said that the Air Force will shortly require the Joint Chiefs of Staff to purchase missiles equivalent to THAAD in terms of capability, according to Yonhap News.

In addition, Orville Prins, the vice president of business development for air and missile defense at Lockheed Martin, told Yonhap last month that "South Korea's procurement agency and Air Force officials showed interest in long-range surface-to-air systems during their visit to the U.S. in April and that discussions are currently under way on whether to acquire THAAD or develop an indigenous program that fits the role."

Instead of joining the U.S.-led missile defense, Korea has been consistently sticking with KAMDS because China, its No.1 trade partner, has objected strongly to the U.S. system, describing it as a means to encircle the country militarily.

However, growing skepticism over PAC-3 capability to thwart Pyongyang's ballistic missiles, which might be tipped with chemical or nuclear warheads, appears to have resulted it in considering other options.

"As PAC-3 is able to fly up to 30 kilometers, it must intercept a missile at one go and there might be collateral damage if a missile tipped with chemical or nuclear warheads is intercepted," the military official said.

"However, the THAAD system has a range of 150 kilometers, so there will be two opportunities to shoot targets down because PAC-3 and THAAD are interoperable and support each other in layered defense."

However, possible THAAD procurement might put South Korea in a dilemma because it is also a core part of the U.S.-led missile defense.

"Buying THAAD may be seen as Korea joining the U.S. missile defense system," said Yang Uk, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum.


軍, SM-3 대신 중고도 THAAD 체계 도입 검토

美 MD 편입 논란 의식…고도 40~150㎞ 요격체계 가닥

군 당국이 다층 미사일 방어체계 구축을 위해 종말(최종)단계의 중고도 방어체계인 THAAD탄의 도입을 검토하는 것으로 알려졌다.

한국형미사일방어체계(KAMD)의 요격 능력 확대를 위해 해군 이지스함에서 발사하는 SM-3(고도 500㎞) 요격미사일과 지상에 포대를 구축하는 THAAD체계(고도 40~150㎞)를 놓고 고심하다가 미국의 미사일방어체계(MD) 편입 논란이 덜한 THAAD로 가닥을 잡은 것으로 전해졌다.

군의 한 소식통은 15일 '중첩적인 미사일 방어체계 구축을 검토하고 있지만 SM-3는 검토 대상이 아니다'면서 '공군에서 조만간 THAAD 도입을 위한 소요능력을 요청할 것으로 안다'고 밝혔다.

국방부도 전날 국회 국방위원장인 새누리당 유승민 의원실에 보고한 자료를 통해 미사일 방어 체계와 관련 'SM-3와 지상발사요격미사일(GBI)는 중간단계 요격체계로서 대기권 밖에서 미사일 요격이 가능하고 THAAD와 패트리엇(PAC)-3는 종말 단계의 상층 및 하층 방어 요격을 담당하는 무기 체계로 SM-3와 GBI와는 상호 운용 개념과 성능이 상이하다'고 설명했다.

SM-3보다는 THAAD가 하층 종말단계 미사일 방어체계인 KAMD에 적합하다는 것이다. 미사일 방어체계는 상승-중간-종말 단계로 이뤄진다.

한국군이 운용하게 될 PAC-3 및 THAAD와 미군이 운용하는 SM-3와 GBI를 상호보완적으로 운용하면 미사일 방어 능력을 향상시킬 수 있다는 것이 군 당국의 구상인 것으로 알려졌다.

국방부는 2020년대 초까지 KAMD를 구축하기 위해 현 PAC-2를 PAC-3로 개량하는 사업을 추진하고 있으나 군 일각에선 PAC-3로는 요격 능력에 한계가 있다는 주장이 제기돼왔다.

군의 한 관계자는 'PAC-3의 요격고도는 30㎞ 이하이기 때문에 한 번의 요격기회밖에 없고 화학무기나 핵을 탑재한 미사일의 경우 요격해도 피해가 발생할 수 있다'며 'THAAD는 요격 고도가 40~150㎞이기 때문에 PAC-3와 상호운용하면 두 번의 요격기회를 잡을 수 있고 상층에서 요격하면 피해도 줄일 수 있다'고 밝혔다.

THAAD는 미국 MD에서 하강단계 중·상층 고도에서 적 미사일을 THAAD탄(발당가격 100억원)으로 요격하는 체계로 1개 포대에 약 1조원의 비용이 든다.

THAAD 레이더는 Ⅹ밴드 계열인 TPY-2로 탐지거리는 1천800㎞다.

대기권 밖에서 미사일을 요격하는 SM-3를 도입하는 것에 비해 미국의 MD 편입 논란이 덜 할 것으로 군 당국은 판단하고 있으나 THAAD 역시 MD의 핵심장비라는 점에서 KAMD와 MD의 경계가 모호해진다는 지적이 제기될 것으로 보인다.
Emailksw@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
miguel
wooribank
LG
Top 10 Stories
1Chuseok exodus begins ahead of extended 6-day holiday Chuseok exodus begins ahead of extended 6-day holiday
2Guide to Chuseok celebrations across KoreaGuide to Chuseok celebrations across Korea
3Korea sees record-low births in July Korea sees record-low births in July
4Political battle intensifies after court rejects Lee's arrest warrant Political battle intensifies after court rejects Lee's arrest warrant
5Hyundai E&C to build upmarket apartment complex in Seoul's Gwanak District Hyundai E&C to build upmarket apartment complex in Seoul's Gwanak District
6DMZ Open Int'l Music Festival to be held in Goyang in November DMZ Open Int'l Music Festival to be held in Goyang in November
7Two Koreas trade barbs over nuclear war Two Koreas trade barbs over nuclear war
8Lotte focuses on health care, mobility to spur growth Lotte focuses on health care, mobility to spur growth
9Defense ministry launches project to find families of unidentified fallen Korean War soldiers Defense ministry launches project to find families of unidentified fallen Korean War soldiers
10Korea on track to prove esports prowess at Asian Games Korea on track to prove esports prowess at Asian Games
Top 5 Entertainment News
1[INTERVIEW] With '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting INTERVIEWWith '30 Days,' Kang Ha-neul finds new level of comfort in acting
2Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene Rwandan artists bring diversity to Seoul's art scene
3[INTERVIEW] ONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince' INTERVIEWONEUS returns as 'mermaid prince'
4Kep1er unveils 'Magic Hour' with fresh perspective on love Kep1er unveils 'Magic Hour' with fresh perspective on love
5K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran K-pop group Kingdom recalls album cover resembling Quran
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group