The country’s Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) announced late last month that it would launch the development of its own version of Israel's Iron Dome system next year, hoping to complete it by around 2035. - EPA Pic
The country’s Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) announced late last month that it would launch the development of its own version of Israel's Iron Dome system next year, hoping to complete it by around 2035. - EPA Pic

WITH North Korea's possible military threat on its mind, South Korea is accelerating its development of advanced weapons systems as a deterrent.

The country's Defence Acquisition Programme Administration (DAPA) announced late last month that it would launch the development of its own version of Israel's Iron Dome system next year, hoping to complete it by around 2035.

Last August, the military has also unveiled a project to develop an interceptor system that could target North Korea's Scud-type or more powerful missiles.

A Korea Times report said South Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) technology was also progressing well with a successful launch of a missile from an underwater platform.

Although the military has declined to comment on the reported launch, defense experts say they believe the military now has core SLBM technology.

However, some defence experts have raised doubts over the need for such technology as SLBM advantage was mainly necessary for nuclear missiles, which the country does not have.

They also raised the issue of cost and benefits for the country over the development of the advanced weapons systems.

For the Korean Iron Dome development project, DAPA had allocated a 2.89 trillion won (US$2.54 billion) budget.

The missile and artillery interception system is aimed at protecting the country's main facilities, military sites and other security infrastructure.

It works by shooting down long range artillery shells and other projectiles using guided missiles.

The missile launchers are installed in various locations in the capital Seoul and forms an air defence network.

It is estimated that North Korea has about 1,000 long range artillery aimed at the South along the border area near the Military Demarcation Line.

It is said that six battalions with 170 millimeter self-propelled guns with a range of 54 km and about 10 battalions with 240 millimeter multiple rocket launchers with a range of 60 km are located there.

The weapons target the Seoul metropolitan area directly and can cause severe destruction to the capital in the event of hostilities.

A senior researcher at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, Shin Jong-woo, said the military had earlier reviewed introducing the Israeli Iron Dome system but decided to develop its own domestically developed system.

According to The Times, he said South Korea has now secured related technologies of the system.

"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 if South Korea had its own interceptor system, the country will save a lot in terms of future costs such as upgrades and maintenance.

Moon said he believes the military has also secured "cold launch" SLBM technology.

In cold launches, a missile is first ejected from its canisters before the rocket engines ignites.

South Korea's military is already operating submarine-launched cruise missiles (SLCMs) and its 3,000 tonne class submarines are likely to be equipped with launching platforms for SLBMs.

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

However, Shin retorted that they was no point in having SLBMs without a nuclear warhead, 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.