2007

January 2007

XK2 Demonstration at Changwon (Mar 2007) (Korea Times)

• NAVY: The South Korean Navy has begun the task of building up its mobile fleet by 2020. The strategic fleet will consist of six 7,000-ton Aegis-class warships, twelve 5,000 ton KDX-II destroyers and two Landing Platform Experimentals (LPX), which are similar to light aircraft carriers. South Korea will be the third after the U.S. and Japan in terms of the number of the Aegis-class warships, considered one of the world's most powerful naval vessels.
  
  The Navy said on 7 Mar it had deactivated two naval flotillas and consolidated subordinate manpower as part of long-term plans to overhaul its military command system. The restructuring, which affected the 1st Flotilla in the Eastern Sea and the 2nd Flotilla in the Western Sea, marked the first major change in Navy organization in 21 years. "The change is in line with the 2020 military reform plan. The change is merely related to a streamlining of the command structure, having no significant influence in the numbers of sailors and warships," a navy spokesman said.
  
  The deactivated flotillas' convoy, patrol and speed boat squadrons will be headed by fleet commanders, he added. Under the 2020 plan, the Navy seeks to simplify its command system by consolidating separate combat units. Navy manpower numbers will be reduced by 4,000. (Source: Korea Herald.)
  
  The 3rd Flotilla has new facilities in the Pusan/Chinhae area to support modern high-tech ships. In addition, the Navy plans to establish a mobile naval combat fleet in the southern island of Jeju by 2012-2014. Under the plan, docks and both command and backup facilities to accommodate mobile combat units of the Navy will be built on the island. The naval base was originally to be built near Hwasoon Harbor, but the site may change to Wimi-ri. In addition, an independent submarine command for an enhanced underwater operational capability.
  
  (SITE NOTE: In addition, six next-generation so-called FFX frigates were to be built by 2015 with country's own technology. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) made the major investment projects to boost Korea's defense capability in 2006. In addition, W1.7 trillion (US $1.7 billion) will be invested in building the 2,300-ton FFX frigates with Korean technology by 2015 to replace the outdated FF frigates. The planned acquisition of Aegis-equipped destroyers, mid-sized submarines and convoy vessels will beef up naval assault and mobility. The military plans to deploy six 4,200-ton destroyers and three 7,000-ton destroyers with the Aegis combat system by 2012. The navy is also in the process of building six 1,800-ton class next-generation submarines by 2009 under the KSS-II project. The Type 214 submarine will be added to the navy's nine German-made Type 209 submarines (1,200 tons). Six domestic-made 2,300-ton class convoy vessels will also be introduced by 2015 under a project code-named FFX.
  
  As part of its plan to build up the strategic fleet, the Navy will double the number it originally planned to build of Aegis-class warships and 5,000-ton KDX-II destroyers. Specific steps to do that was to be proposed to higher-ups including the Joint Chiefs of Staff by as early as the end of Mar 2007. The Navy finished building six KDX-II destroyers last year and plans to build three Aegis-class warships by 2012. Now it needs to secure the manpower and a budget of some W6 trillion (US$1=W945) to complete the task. It plans to save funds by reducing or possibly delaying the construction of other new warships including the FFX and the PKX.
  
  There are no changes to the ROK Marine elements, but closer coordination and training is anticipated into the future. In case of a counter-attack into North Korea, the ROK must rely on US Navy ships to accomplish the mission. The Korean Marine Corps its first landing drills at the division level without U.S. support in Oct 2006. So far, the Marines used equipment from U.S. forces including landing craft and conducted drills at the battalion and regiment levels. The exercise proved the ROK must rely on US Navy support for any counter-attack against North Korea.)
  
  
• ARMY: Army manpower numbers will be reduced by 177,000. In Feb, the Army announced that it will establish a rear operational command by November, reorganizing the current 2nd Army. Two army corps will be deactivated. In Oct 2007, the 2nd Operations Command was activated and the two army corps were incorporated into the command. The Army also plans to consolidate its frontline 1st and 3rd Armies into a ground forces command by around 2010. This command will be the Forward Defense Command and the combining of the 1st and 3rd armies was still in the planning stages. It will also consider transferring coastal border security to the police. Besides air strike capabilities, land strike forces will also be enhanced through acquiring more K1A1 tanks, K-9 self-propelled artillery and multiple launch rocket systems. (Source: Korea Herald.)
  
  (SITE NOTE: Due to the falling birth rates, the Army conscript system will be in trouble by 2018. Therefore, there are long-range plans to reduce the military manning, but increase more reliance on robotic patrols along the DMZ. The number is to be cut to 500,000 in stages by 2020 under a 15-year defense reform package unveiled last year. In addition, the South Korean military plans to adopt a new draft system. According to the plan, enlisted soldiers can serve an extra year in the military and receive a higher pay. Under the project, the military will have about 20,000 such soldiers by 2020, as an alternative to the current compulsory military service.
  
  The Army created a missile defense command in Oct 2006 to lead strikes against North Korean missile bases in the event of emergency. As part of structural military realignment, the new command will be based in the central region for strategic and tactical reasons. The command will handle the country's artillery capability, including the multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) and ground-to-ground missiles, also known as the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).
  
  HOWEVER, the WRSA-K issue has not been settled. As it stands, the ROK has only 10 days of ammo if a shooting war broke out -- and all the talk for procuring JDAMS munitions is still just talk. On 24 Mar 2006, it was reported that the U.S. asked $500 million WRSA stockpile of ammunition and military supplies. It reportedly was America's first public disclosure of an offer price for the supplies. There is a time-limit on the transfer. If not accepted, after the three years, the WRSA program will be terminated and the U.S. Department of Defense will remove or discard the remaining items. The law covers munitions, equipment and materiel such as tanks, trucks, artillery, mortars, general-purpose bombs and repair parts. This means the deadline is Nov 2008.)
  
  
• AIR FORCE: Air Force strength will remain at current levels. The Air Force is seeking to establish a northern flight command to extend its operational theater to cover the whole Korean Peninsula. (Source: Korea Herald.)
  
  (SITE NOTE: For upgraded strike forces Shooter, the country will introduce upgraded aircraft such as F-15K fighter jets, T-50 advanced trainer jets and TA-50 light attackers. In addition, the ministry also plans to acquire 20 additional advanced fighter jets of U.S.-made F-15K class in quality. The fighters, to be introduced between 2009 and 2015, will reinforce the Air Force's assault operations along with 40 F-15Ks to be delivered from Boeing Co. by 2008. South Korea formally awarded its $1.59 billion surveillance aircraft project to Boeing Co. of the United States, the country's defense procurement agency said on 7 Nov. The plan also includes the purchase of the Patriot missile system, code-named SAM-X, and satellite-guided missiles called JDAM. The Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles, an advanced version of the surface-to-air Patriot missile, will replace the country's aging arsenal of Nike Hercules missiles. PAC-3s were supposed to be deployed by 2008, but this has been an on-and-off issue for five years.)
  
  
• JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF: Separate from the reform plan, the military is now planning to overhaul the function of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as it prepares to take over wartime operational control in 2012 from the United States. An independent wartime command will be established by the end of next year for Korean-led war-fighting on the peninsula. (Source: Korea Herald.)

F-16D over Tokdo

F-35 Lightning II

F-22 fighter jets

(SITE NOTE: Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is an automatic identification method, relying on storing and remotely retrieving data using devices called RFID tags or transponders. An RFID tag is an object that can be attached to or incorporated into a product, animal, or person for the purpose of identification using radio waves. Chip-based RFID tags contain silicon chips and antennas. Passive tags require no internal power source, whereas active tags require a power source. We are wondering how this technology can be transferred to security along the fence line. Passive RFID is more of a static id to track remotely -- but more useful for storage and inventory or items like epassports. Active RFID tags, however, have the potential to function as low-cost remote sensors that broadcast telemetry back to a base station. Applications of tagometry data could include sensing of road conditions by implanted beacons, weather reports, and noise level monitoring. The problems is the RFID tags can be JAMMED...rendering them useless.)

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May 2007

U.S. reluctant to meet Seoul's demands over FMS arms exports (May 2007) The US is reluctant to meet Seoul's demand to upgrade its status in the American Foreign Military Sales (FMS) arms exporting program for allies on 6 May. The Seoul government recently asked Washington to amend Korea's standing in the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program at a Security Cooperation Committee meeting. However, the U.S. side again rebuffed the demand, saying the status upgrade requires the revision of related U.S. laws, such as overseas support laws and arms export control laws.

But the MND will continue with its efforts for the amendment in this year's SCM meeting in September. FMS is Washington's arms exporting program under which U.S. allies are allowed to purchase weapons with U.S. guarantees of quality. Its membership rating differentiates sales conditions among the U.S. allies, including regulations related to the export authorization process and the listing of items under export control. (SITE NOTE: It is a bargain basement sales program, but the top clients with large sales -- and are political allies -- get the best deals. Korea is a shaky ally at best. However, critics say Korea has been discriminated against with stricter regulations as well as extra costs due to its lowest FMS ratings. The ROK is desparately seeking good deals as it must undergo massive weapons upgrade programs -- as well as procurement fills for its munitions. FMS is also the cheapest method to procure spare parts for its existing weapons systems. The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program manages government-to-government purchases of weapons and other defense articles, defense services, and military training. A military buying weapons through the FMS program does not deal directly with the company that makes them. The Defense Department serves as an intermediary, usually handling procurement, logistics and delivery and often providing product support and training. (See CIP online for details of FMS program.)

In the FMS program, Korea is grouped in the third-ranked "Major non-NATO Ally" group with Egypt, the Philippines, and Thailand, among others. Citing the country's low FMS rating, Korean lawmakers and experts have claimed Korea is being "improperly discriminated against" by the U.S. government, despite making huge purchases of U.S.-made weapons and equipment. Korea is the fifth-largest U.S. weapons buyer, purchasing about a 5 percent share of all U.S. weapons exports. Under the current rating, Korea's arms purchases exceeding $50 million require the approval of the U.S. Congress, whose deliberation process usually takes 30 days. Meanwhile, for the "NATO+3" group of nations, the U.S. Congress reviews arms purchases only if the total cost exceeds $100 million. That deliberation is completed in less than 15 days. In the NATO+3 group, the 26 member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Japan, Australia and New Zealand are included. (Source: Korea Herald.)

MYTH: FMS Program at Discount Rates Why the sudden interest in the FMS program? The prime interest is the WRSA-K fiasco that is on-going where the ROK munitions -- mainly naval -- are becoming outdated and unsafe. The second is the "follow-on" packages for advanced missiles for the F-15K -- as well as future buys.

The basic legal controls of FMS which restrict the FMS program from quickly responding to a crisis, however, have not changed. This is normally a long and drawn out process because of the multiple levels of approval and regulations involved. This is NOT the method the ROK would seek to use because their shortfall is IMMEDIATE -- which is why the ROK wants an upgrade in its status. Their crisis is immediate and an upgrade in status will bypass the layers of approvals -- and grant them priority on purchases of highly prized military hardware items.

Perhaps the ROK is looking for some cheap buys under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program in the form of FMS grants ("free" gratis transfers) -- a program separate from the WRSA-K. This will NOT happen as FMS gratis programs stopped in 1986. (See DISAM: Greenbook: Conditions of Eligibility for criteria of "grant" aid.) Though the ROK continues to purchase equipment through the FMS program, the "free" FMS grants ended on 16 Dec 1986. The FMS grants to the ROK (gratis transfers) stopped in 1987. (See ROK MND: 2003. After 1986, the US was starting to recognize that the "miracle of the Han" had made the ROK into one of the four dragons of Asia -- a country well able to support its own defense.)

Normally munitions do NOT fall under FMS -- though missile and weapons development and aircraft upgrade kits for munitions does. The items that could fall within the FMS area are (1) munitions, sub-systems, and related equipment for possible sale of F-15K aircraft, including 105 AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles and 157 AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs); (2) 45 AGM-84-H Standoff Land Attack Missiles-Expanded Response missile systems, 1 ATM-84-H Exercise Missile and related equipment for use on F-15K aircraft. (3) Cooperative Logistics Supply Support agreement for radar and missiles. (4) Three MK-41 Vertical Launch Systems for South Korean destroyers. (5) 36 AH-1Z Super Cobra or AH-64D Apache attack helicopters with weapons and support equipment.

The FMS program is normally for "hardware" meaning ships, spare parts, electronics and such. FMS Sales are primarily for "hardware" such as popular U.S. Army systems, including the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS), Black Hawk helicopter, and TOW missile upgrades. However, there is increasing global competition in the international sales community, typified by intense competition for main battle tanks, attack helicopters, and tactical missile systems.

The FMS program is legally sanctioned in the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) of 1976, as amended. The FMS program is the means by which military articles and services are transferred from a component of the U.S. government to a foreign government or international organization in non-emergency circumstances. From a legal perspective, the FMS program is a peace-time program, but world events now has made the FMS into a critical component of coalition defense operations, war-time planning, and logistics support.

The ROK media seems to be under the mis-impression that the latest high-tech missiles and munitions are going to be sold at discount rates. This is up to Congress to approve these types of sales. Selling off "special" munitions (JDAMS, etc.) may not be in the offing as there are current shortfalls -- and WRSA-K stocks may be shifted elsewhere if the follow-ons are removed. Besides, the fills of missiles into an WRSA is only AFTER all other requirements are filled.

The following article from the Chosun Ilbo on 6 Apr 2005, was refuted by the USFK. The USFK stated that the "USFK has not offered to sell the stocks to the ROK government, nor engaged in any negotiations concerning the potential sale of WRSA assets. The sale, destruction or removal of the stocks is a U.S. Congressional decision." Even if the munitions were declared Excess Defense Equipment (EDA) and offered on a grant basis, the DoD must still notify the Congressional Committees on Appropriations. "Before issuing a letter of offer (LOA) to sell EDA under the AECA, DoD shall notify the Committees on Appropriations in accordance with regular notification procedures if the articles are significant military equipment (SME) or are valued (original acquisition cost) at $7,000,000 or more, or if notification is required elsewhere in this Act for the use of appropriated funds for specific countries that would receive such EDA. The notification is to include the original acquisition cost for the articles." The WRSA munitions could possibly be interpreted to fall within this category. (SOURCE: 2005: WRSA-K.)

ROK to Seek F-16 Spare Parts under FMS (May 2007) Then it became clear why the ROK surfaced the FMS ranking. The ROKAF was considering purchasing spare parts of F-16 fighter aircraft from the Lockheed Martin, under a commercial deal to supply needed aircraft components cheaper and faster -- meaning under an FMS deal. The Air Force also plans a similar contract with U.S. aircraft maker Boeing, the supplier of F-15Ks. The Air Force buys aging F-16 parts from the U.S. government under a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) agreement that requires guarantee money and complicated bureaucratic procedures for approval, the MND said on 10 May 2007.

With most F-16 production lines being closed worldwide, South Korea has had difficulty supplying needed parts to its F-16 units in time, and the cost of aircraft parts has risen. An F-16 crash last March, involving a lack of spare parts and, subsequently, poor maintenance, resulted in the resignation of the Air Force chief. ``The Korean Air Force recently proposed the plan to us,'' a Lockheed Martin official told The Korea Times, requesting to remain anonymous. ``Under a three- or four-year contract, South Korea will get F-16 or C-130 aircraft spare parts cheaper and faster than before.'' South Korea has nearly 140 F-16s in operation.

Under the FMS deal, South Korea has a low priority, as the U.S. focuses on Iraq, Afghanistan and other allies. Lockheed Martin has similar contracts with the United Kingdom and Italy, and plans to sign a deal with Singapore, Poland and other nations. Last month, a military source from the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said the country is mulling aging U.S. arms components, including F-16 spare parts from third nations in a bid to improve the operational rate of weapons, which has decreased due to difficulties in securing components for U.S. weapons systems more than 30 years old.

``We will try to sign related deals with other foreign nations that have used U.S. weapons systems by the end of next year,'' he said, adding the potential suppliers of U.S. weapons components surpluses include Switzerland, Turkey and Israel. For example, the agency wants to purchase AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles for F-5 fighters from the Swiss, he said. The agency signed a similar pact with Spain last November. Under the deal, South Korea procured a total of 17 components for F-4 Phantom aircraft, such as landing gear, from Spain in December.

ROK purchases US$1 billion worth of U.S. weapons in 2007 (Jun 2007) It was reported on 16 Jun that South Korea will purchase nearly US$1 billion worth of weapons from the United States in the fiscal year 2007 which ends in September, the fifth-largest amount in the world, but at a slightly higher price than others due to U.S. restrictions. According to the budget bill for 2008, now under review by Congress, South Korea will likely have purchased a total of $955 million worth of weapons through the foreign military sales (FMS) program in the fiscal year, which ends in September 2007, following Turkey with a little over $3.4 billion, Afghanistan ($3.1 billion), Saudi Arabia ($1.59 billion) and Iraq with about $1 billion.

The FMS program manages government-to-government sales of weapons and other military articles and training. Seoul purchased about $410 million worth of weapons through the FMS program in 2006. It was expected to buy some $350 million worth of weapons in fiscal year 2008, according to the U.S. bill. Despite such large amounts of purchases, however, Seoul continues to buy U.S. weapons at a slightly higher price than most of other U.S. allies due to its lack of preferential status in the FMS system, the bill showed. Washington currently categorizes its main weapons purchases in three classes: North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), NATO plus 3 and major non-NATO allies.

Seoul belongs to the lowest category of major non-NATO allies along with 13 others, including Egypt, Thailand and Pakistan, who have to pay an extra 1.7 percent of their total purchase amounts to cover administrative costs. Members of NATO and those belonging to the NATO plus 3 group, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the recently added Israel, are asked to pay between 0.2 percent to 1 percent. (Source: Yonhap News.)

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'Russia Opposes Seoul's UAV Purchase' The U.S. move to sell unmanned reconnaissance aircraft to South Korea is facing opposition from Russia and other member countries of a global arms control pact, defense sources said on 10 May. At the request of South Korea, the United States has pushed to revise the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) to allow the sale of the Global Hawk to the Korean military. But some member nations are expressing concern about the possible spread of advanced technology regarding unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), they said.

The MTCR is a voluntary association of countries that share the goal of non-proliferation of ballistic missiles and other unmanned delivery systems that could be used for chemical, biological and nuclear attacks. The Global Hawk, whose per-unit price is about $50, is classified as category 1 under the 34-member regime. MTCR members are supposed to coordinate national export licensing efforts, and all MTCR decisions are made by consensus. ``Each MTCR member has their own position and interest, and that's quite natural. We believe member nations will coordinate on the matter well,'' Col. Kang Yong-hee, spokesman for the Defense Ministry, told reporters. He, however, declined to comment which nations oppose the UAV sale to Korea.

Washington wants to revise the arms control regime in a general meeting in October, another source said. Securing independent reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities is a key to South Korea's planned independent control of its military during wartime by 2012. South Korea aims to purchase four RQ-4 Global Hawks between 2008 and 2012. Developed by Northrop Grumman, the high-altitude, long-endurance UAV provides near-real-time, high-resolution imagery to battlefield commanders through satellite and ground systems by detecting the movements and composition of objects that are only 30 centimeters long. It is known to cover ranges as far as 12,000 nautical miles and fly at altitudes of up to 65,000 feet for as long as 35 hours. (Source: Korea Times.) (SITE NOTE: In Nov 2006, the US refused to sell the Global Hawk to Korea because of fear that it might leak the technology. This is why the US currently refuses to sell any Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAV) to the ROK, though it is selling them to the Japanese. In Jan 2007 the US reaffirmed that it could sell Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to South Korea only if related international restrictions were lifted according to DAPA, Seoul's defense procurement agency. "The U.S. said it was not opposed in principle to the sale of Global Hawks," the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said in a press release. However, U.S. officials emphasized that the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) should first be revised. South Korea aims to introduce the Global Hawk to boost its defense capability, but the UAV, which can conceivably be used as a delivery system for weapons of mass destruction, is considered a Category I system under MTCR guidelines, indicating that it is a "technology of greatest sensitivity." (Source: Hankyoreh News.) The bottomline is that we have not heard anything that the US has changed its mind about the fear over leaked technology.)

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ROKAF Completes C4I Command System (May 2007) It was reported on 27 May that the Korean military has completed construction of the Air Force's digital network command system, C4I, which will be a core element of infrastructure for the military's network-centric war fighting capabilities, the acquisition bureau said yesterday. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration said the office has delivered control of the C4I system, which connects the Air Operations Command (AOC) and all air force units, to the Air Force. (NOTE: The AOC is located at Osan AB -- the home of the HTACC (Hardened Tactical Air Control Center) which controls all US air assets in time of war. How this will interface with the ROK system after wartime control is given to the ROK is unknown. This development is for the "control" part of the C4I -- command, communications, control, computer and intelligence. The "intelligence" part of the formula has gapping holes and the MND admitted that the ROK may have to rely on US intel for years to come. The ROK is attempting to come up with its own indigenous "computer" system.)

The C4I project, based on advanced domestic IT technologies, connects troops in the field to distant headquarters. With the help of the C4I system (command, communication, control, computer and intelligence), the Air Force will be able to respond to threats quickly through real-time communications between headquarters and combat units, the DAPA said.

The military has invested 57.2 billion won ($60.8 million) since 2004 to build the air force C4I system and maximize roles of military units, individuals and procedures employed through network connections. The system was built by Posdata Co. Ltd, an IT service provider established by the nation's steel giant POSCO.

The Defense Ministry has been developing the improved C4I command system for use in all military branches since 2000. The ministry aims to finalize the Army C4I project for frontline ground forces by the end of 2008, spending a total of 264 billion won ($280 million). The military also plans to integrate the digital control systems of the Navy and Air Force with ground forces. (SITE NOTE: Currently there are major problems that the services computers systems do not interface.) (Source: Korea Herald.)

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ROK-China Hotline to be Set up (May 2007) Korea and China on 23 May agreed to set up military hotlines around Aug. 24. The agreement was reached during talks in Seoul between Gen. Kim Kwan-jin, chairman of the Korean JCS, and Liang Guanglie, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, the JCS said. Last month, President Roh Moo-hyun and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao agreed in principle to establish communication lines between the countries to help avoid accidental maritime clashes in the West Sea.

During the talks, the two military chiefs agreed to use international commercial communication lines for the emergency hotlines, JCS officials said. The navy hotline will be created between Korea's naval operations command in Jinhae and China's northern naval fleet command in Qingdao, officials said. The air force hotline will connect Korea's air operation command in Osan and China's air defense center in Beijing, they said. Kim and Liang also reaffirmed the agreement to conduct their first joint maritime search and rescue drills around September when a Korean naval fleet visits Shanghai.

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South Korea Tears Down Fences (May 2007) Agence France-Presse reported on 30 May that the ROK will tear down hundreds of miles of barbed-wire fences erected at beaches and riverside areas originally designed to prevent infiltration from the DPRK. There are a total of 644km of such fences along coastlines and rivers but they are unsightly and a nuisance for both tourists and residents. Some 97km of fencing will be torn down this year, including those on 54 beaches in the eastern province of Gangweon. An additional 41km of barbed wire will be removed by the end of 2009 and the rest in phases after that. The fences will be replaced by modern surveillance equipment.

The government plans to begin removing more than 600 kilometers of barbed wire set up along coastal and river areas in the country as part of efforts to modernize the border system and resolve local residents' inconveniences caused by the wire fences. The plan was endorsed during a policy-coordination meeting presided over by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo. The three-phase plan will affect a total of 644.3 kilometers of barbed wire fences across the nation. In the first-stage, the military will dismantle by the end of this year 97.2 kilometers of barbed wire in residential and tourist zones and an additional 40.6 kilometers of barbed wire will be removed by the end of 2009 in the second stage.

The rest will be replaced with high-tech surveillance systems. The Defense Ministry plans to introduce a robot surveillance system for the defense of the border and coastal areas by 2011. One option is to employ smart sensor technology as an around the clock sentry along the inter-Korean border to replace soldiers. The military plans to try out the unmanned detection and defense system in May at a military camp outside the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). (Source: Korea Times.)

(SITE NOTE: This is not really news. In 1990, the ROK gave up its defense of the coastlines. It is impossible to guard its entire coastline from infiltration from the North. In fact, the North has been proven to infiltrate at will and were only caught when its submarines were snagged on fishing nets or grounded due to engine failure. The ROK government basically said that if the farmers or fisherman wish access to the beaches, they could tear the fences down. In other words, it was left up to the local governments. All of the fences at tourism spots or beach parks were removed by the local governments on the west coast. However, the Gangwon area beaches were left fenced because of the incidents of past infiltration there -- with manned stations monitoring the beaches. Unfortunately, the fences impacted on tourism to the areas. Finally the ROK has decided to tear them down -- though the responsibility will be left for the local government to handle, a task Gangwon considers important for tourism. The main reason for reduced emphasis on the sea infiltration is that the DPRK has found it is easier to simply let their spies pose as Japanese or Koreans (or other nationalities) with forged documents. The risks are almost minimal as the last DPRK spies captured admitted that they had entered the ROK multiple times in the past using forged documents.)

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Russia Wants to Repay Debt with Defense Materials (May 2007) On 30 May the Donga Ilbo reported Korea's efforts to retrieve loans extended to Russia were expected to be challenged despite Russia's former commitment to cash debt repayment from June 1. A Russian diplomatic source from Moscow said on May 30, "Russia made an unofficial proposal in which it would repay $700-800 million in defense industry materials, among the outstanding loans of $1.33 billion that Russia owes Korea."

In September 2003, the Korean government reached an agreement with Russia to cancel $660 million in accrued interest and retrieve the outstanding debt by cash commencing June, 2007. However, the possibility of reclaiming this debt in cash is once more uncertain. With Russia's suggestion, criticism and concern have arisen once again over the Korean government's loan recovery policy and the potential reoccurrence of the failed loan repayment negotiations of four years ago. (SITE NOTE: Actually it was Korea's greed and stupidity that got it into trouble. We remember when Russia collapsed and the ROK saw an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of taking over the businesses in Russia. It did not work out that way and Russia defaulted on its loans. Later in the mid-1990s, the Russians attempted to pay off a portion of their loans with military hardware, but these have ended up as "bastard children" because of the lack of spare parts as US parts do not mate to the Russian models.)

In 2003, the Korean government proposed tax credits for Korean companies making inroads into Russia's special economic zone, Nakhodka, in return for partial debt cancellation, but Russia in effect called off the proposal. Russia insists on paying with materials- On the eve of the loan repayment date, Russia released a proposal based on the provision of the agreement between Korea and Russia from four years ago. The agreement contains the following provision: 'The principle of the loan, due in 2007, will be paid by cash, but if the two parties agree, materials can be used in place of cash.'

Russia appears to be using the debt repayment issue as a channel to sell Russian weapons. Moscow's military experts say, "Russia earns profits just as large as those earned from the exportation of complete goods, selling parts for Landing Craft Air Cushions and the T-86U - products that were given to Korea in place of cash repayments."

Possibility of a "big deal"- Russian participants at the Korea-Russia Economic Forum, held in Seoul on May 28 – just four days before the repayment deadline – allegedly strongly supported the establishment of a Korea-Russian logistics joint venture for modernizing North Korea's outdated railroads. Observers predict that Russia may push ahead with a so called, "big deal," in relation to North Korea's rail roads, while delaying total cash repayment. The potential scenario is that Russia cancels $8 billion that North Korea owes to Russia in return for transferring money for repayment to the North Korea rail roads project. In addressing the issue, a Korean embassy high-ranking official in Russia said, "Currently, the two parties are exchanging debt re a Korea embassy high-ranking official payment opinions informally and no concrete result has been reached." (Source: Donga Ilbo.)

Russia offers helicopters in lieu of debt repayment (Jun 2007) Instead of paying cash, Russia has asked Seoul if it will accept military equipment to cover some of its debt of more than $1 billion, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Losyukov said. In an interview on 6 Jun with Itar Tass, Russia’s official news agency, the deputy foreign minister suggested that Russian helicopters suitable for both civilian and military use could be provided to Seoul.

In September of 2003, both sides negotiated a new repayment structure stemming from a loan given in 1991, totaling $1.47 billion, about the time the two sides reestablished diplomatic ties. Under the 2003 repayment plan of $1.33 billion, Russia will give South Korea cash payments two times per year until 2025, starting this month. At the time, both sides also discussed the possibility of an exchange of goods.

A government official acknowledged yesterday that Russia made the request, but said Seoul has made no decision yet on the issue and is consulting with relevant government agencies, such as the Defense Ministry. A meeting between Foreign Minister Song Min-soon and his Russian counterpart Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Moscow brought up the issue and expressed an interest in increasing defense cooperation, a Foreign Ministry official said.

An official with the Defense Ministry who declined to be named said yesterday that the South’s military has been looking at Russian search-and-rescue helicopters or other helicopters that could be used for rapid deployment of troops and attacks. The South Korean military currently uses Russian T-80U main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers, such as the BMP-3. The Korea Forest Service also uses Russian KA-32T helicopters to combat forest fires. (Source: Joongang Ilbo.)

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June 2007

"Next Infantry Fighting Vehicles" to Be Mass-Produced (Jun 2007) South Korea is set to begin mass-producing its new infantry fighting vehicle later this month, the Ministry of Defense reported on 11 Jun. "We finished the testing on the capability of three prototypes that were rolled out in 2005," said Hong Hai-nam, principal researcher at the Agency for Defense Development (ADD). Officially named the Next Infantry Fighting Vehicle (NIFV), the amphibious vehicle has met all the criteria required by the Army and it has been judged fit for war fighting, Hong added. The NIFV has a mounted, stabilized 40-millimeter cannon, a 7.63-mm machine gun and a launcher for anti-tank guided missiles, making it capable of shooting down slow-moving helicopters and aircraft. It can run at the speed of up to 70 kilometers an hour on the ground. The 26-ton vehicle can carry three crew members and a squad of nine soldiers, (Source: Korea Times.)

It took seven years for the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) to develop the K21 armored vehicle in partnership with Doosan Infracore and 10 other domestic defense companies at a cost of 91 billion won (US$93 million), a spokesman for the ADD said. The XK21 KNIFV's chassis will be constructed entirely out of fiberglass, reducing the vehicle's load and enabling it to travel at higher speeds without bulky and powerful engines. When constructed, the NIFV will be lighter than other IFVs, including the American Bradley series and Russian BMP series, increasing both speed and payload. The two-men turret on the KNIFV will be armed with a 40 mm L/70 Bofors gun capable of firing APFSDS and other high-explosive and smoke rounds as its main gun, combined with an advanced fire-control system and gun stabilizer usually found on third-generation main battle tanks that will make the XK21 KNIFV the one and only IFV to move and engage the targets with high degree of accuracy at the same time. The ammunition for the autocannon is stored under the turret. Other armaments include a 7.62 mm machine gun and one or more indigenously produced ATGM. The XK21 KNIFV is able to carry a total of 9 passengers and 3 more vehicle crew members.

With the Battle Management System, the troops inside the vehicle can be instantly notified about the environment around them, improving their situational awareness. Not only that the KNIFV equipped with a fire-control system used by third-generation main battle tanks and not infantry fighting vehicles, the vehicle can be operated through Battle Management System provided by the system control computer. This allows the vehicle crews to be instantly notified of anything that might occur on the battlefield. (Source: Wikipedia.) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K300_NIFV

Background: 2005 The Defense Ministry said on 17 May 2005 that it has developed a prototype of a state-of-the-art amphibious armored vehicle equipped with guided missiles and laser warning system. The new armored vehicle, called the Korea Next Infantry Fighting Vehicle (KNIFV), will be deployed in the military starting 2008, as part of the ministry's mid- to long-term weapons buildup program. The Agency for Defense Development (ADD), a state-funded research institute, and other domestic companies including Doosan Infracore launched a weapons development project in December 1999. The government will spend 91 billion won ($90.2 million) by 2006 for the development of the KNIFV.

“The new armored vehicles have far better capabilities than the K-200s which the military is currently operating,” Choi Chang-kon of ADD said. “It is also superior to the U.S. M2 Bradley and Russia's BMP-3.” The 25-ton vehicle, which has a seating capacity of 12, is equipped with sophisticated anti-tank missiles, a 40mm anti-aircraft gun and a 7.62mm machine gun, he said. It can move in the water with the help of an automatic airbag system on both sides of the vehicle. The fighting vehicle is also equipped with a high-tech identification system, dubbed the “friend or foe” system, using an ultraviolet sensor to detect the approach of enemy airplanes, Choi said.

“We expect the KNIFV would be in high demand among Middle East and Southeast Asian countries because of its accessible price of $2.5 million and superior capabilities as compared to foreign vehicles,” he said. The 33-ton M2 Bradley and 18.7-ton BMP-3 cost some $4.5 million. A ceremony marking the production of three KNIFV prototypes will take place at a plant of Doosan Infracore in Changwon, capital of South Gyeongsang Province, on 19 May 2005, according to the ADD. (Source: Korea Net.)

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S. Korea to Sell Trainer Aircraft, Tanks to Turkey (Jun 2007) South Korea will export more than 30 KT-1 basic trainer jets to Turkey, which has also decided to build the South Korean-made XK-2 main battle tank under a license agreement, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on 20 Jun 2007. ``The Turkish Defense Ministry announced its plan June 20 to open contract negotiations with the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) for the nation’s trainer aircraft program,’’ Lee Sun-hi, director of the DAPA, said. Turkey also announced that OTOKAR, the main developer of the country’s tank procurement program, will begin negotiations over the technology transfer of the XK2 with South Korea’s state-funded Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and defense firm Rotem, Lee said.

DAPA spokesman Park Sung-soo said the contract regarding the sale of trainer aircraft plus spare parts, and the licensed production of the new main battle tank is expected to be valued at around $540 million, the second largest arms export, after Samsung Techwin’s $1-billion license deal over the K-9 self-propelled howitzer with Turkey in 2001.

``The latest weapons contracts are landmark and I believe they are a result of South Korea’s full-fledged efforts to increase its arms-producing capabilities,’’ said the spokesman. He said a full-scale export of the XK2 technology is likely to take place in about one or two years.

The KT-1 named ``Woongbi’’ is the Republic of Korean Air Force’s indigenous aircraft jointly built by the KAI and ADD in a project that began in 1988. The plane was the first in its class to be designed entirely by a computer. It is equipped with all the systems needed to teach intricate acrobatic maneuvers, as well as a computer-controlled flight system.

The 10.3-meter aircraft has turbo-prop engines boasting a 950-horsepower that can generate a maximum speed of up to 574 kilometers per hour. It can fly at an altitude of 9,000 to 11,000 meters and cover a distance of 1,700 kilometers without refueling. The Korean Air Force has deployed 85 KT-1s since 2000. South Korea sold seven KT-1s to Indonesia, along with spare parts, in 2003 under a $60-million contract, which made the country one of the few aircraft exporters in the world. In 2006, Indonesia purchased 12 more KT-1s.

The XK2 unveiled in March is one of the world’s top-class tanks, whose mobility, survivability, firepower and digital battlefield system are believed to be superior than the U.S. M1A2 SEP and the French Leclerc. (See XK2 Black Leopard.) The ADD, affiliated with the Ministry of National Defense, led the development of the indigenous high-tech vehicle in partnership with some 20 domestic defense companies led by Rotem, a unit of Hyndai Motor, over the past 12 years with a budget of $230 million. The main armament of the tank dubbed ``Black Panther’’ includes a 12.7mm K-6 heavy machine gun, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and an indigenous 120mm/55-caliber smooth-bore gun with better muzzle velocity than the 120mm/44-caliber gun equipping a K1A1. It has a 1,500-horsepower engine and can travel up to 70 kilometers per hour on surface roads and 50 kilometers per hour off-road with gun stabilization. The tank can cross rivers as deep as 4.1 meters using a snorkel, a considerable improvement over the K1 and K1A1, and fire as soon as it resurfaces. (Source: Korea Times.)

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Air Force to Decommission 20 Aging Aircraft (Jun 2007) The Air Force plans to stop flying about 20 aircraft more than 35 years old to save funds on operations and maintenance, an Air Force spokesman said on 28 Jun. The plan is part of the Air Force's mid- to long-term efforts to overhaul its maintenance and logistics support system, following the crash of an F-16 fighter in February. The crash was the result of poor maintenance of its engine, the Air Force said. The aircraft to be decommissioned are A-37 Dragonfly light attack aircraft and RF-5 reconnaissance planes, Col. Kim Kyu-jin told reporters. The Air Force adopted the Northrop-built RF-5 in 1959 and the A-37, a re-make or upgrade of the Cessna T-37 of the U.S. Air Force, in 1963. The Air Force has requested the Defense Ministry set aside some $711 million for aircraft maintenance next year, up $22 million from this year, and boost the budget over the next three years in stages.

In bids to help facilitate the supply of spare parts of aging U.S.-made fighter jets, such as F-5s and F-4s, the Air Force is seeking to purchase the required components from other nations, Kim said. Last month, the task force members visited Israel to discuss ways of purchasing spare parts for the F-5 Freedom Fighter and is consulting with Spain over parts for the F-4 Phantom, he said. An Air Force source said a plan to buy aging F-16 parts from the aircraft producer Lockheed Martin under a commercial deal is also being considered. The government-to-government Foreign Military Sale (FMS) program requires guarantee money and complicated bureaucratic procedures for approval, he said. He said South Korea has had difficulty supplying needed parts to its F-16 units in time and that the cost of aircraft parts has risen with most F-16 production lines being closed worldwide. (Source: Korea Times.)

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ROK Attitude that US Stopping it from Countering DPRK Missiles (Jun 2007) According to Yonhap News, North Korea has a large stockpile of mobile, ballistic missiles. It is believed to possess more than 600 Scud-type missiles with a range of 300-700 km, and 100 Rodong missiles, a further development of the Scud, which have an estimated range of 2,000 km. It has also developed the Taepodong-1 which can fly up to 2,500 km, despite a failed test of Taepodong-2 with a range of 6,700 km last year. All the missiles can be used as delivery systems for nuclear payloads. On the other hand, South Korea is still shackled by a deal with the U.S. that caps the range and the weight of payloads for ballistic missiles to 300 km and 500 kilograms.

Due to the limits, Seoul has been shifting attention to slower, surface-skimming cruise missiles which are not affected by the Missile Technology Control Regime. Last year, the military developed a 500-km range cruise missile, dubbed Cheonryong, which is capable of surgical strikes. It has also bought some Army Tactical Missile System surface-to-surface missiles from the U.S. that have ranges of 300 km, according to defense sources. In addition, South Korea plans to set up its own missile defense system starting in 2008. (Source: Yonhap News.) (SITE NOTE: The arrival of the used PAC-2 system was supposed to be in 2007, but who knows when the ROK will actually purchase it. The fact that it will push for its own space launch pad indicates that it has visions of developing its own long range missiles as well. The implied threat is that the ROK will start up the arms race once the US releases wartime control. The ROK developed its indigenous cruise missiles in violation of a missile treaty and on after-the-fact did the US approve the cruise missile simply because the ATACMS with a 300km range had been approved for the ROK.)

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Korea, U.S. agree to complete new alliance structure by 2009 (Jun 2007) Korea and the United States agreed to set up a new joint military structure by 2009 as part of preparations for the planned transfer of wartime operational control of Korean armed forces from Washington to Seoul, the Defense Ministry said on 28 Jun. Gen. Kim Kwan-jin, chairman of the Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Burwell Bell, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, on 28 Jun signed an action plan for implementing the transition scheduled for Apr. 17, 2012.

The roadmap was signed at U.S. Yongsan Garrison in downtown Seoul. The agreement sets several milestones in the turnover of operational wartime command to South Korea. The United States and South Korea agreed in October 2006 to the "New Alliance Military Structure Roadmap," and decided that a transition plan should be completed by mid-2007. According to the "Strategic Implementation Plan," allies aim to complete by late 2009 new joint command structures which would see Seoul play a leading role in case of war on the Korean Peninsula.


Gen Burwell Bell and Gen Kim Kwan-jin signing document (28 Jun 2008) (Tongil News)

"Through a deliberate process incorporating multiple theater-level exercises and evaluations, the JCS will achieve initial operational capability as the theater war fighting command by late 2009 and attain full operational capability by the end of 2011," the JCS said in a press release. The JCS will overhaul its organization to have sufficient capability to exercise independent wartime operational control by the target date. In the first major overhaul of the JCS in about two decades, the apparatus will enhance its operation department by the first half of 2009, becoming the Joint Forces Command. Eight combat institutions will be created in the organization. It said the USFK will change into a ``supporting war-fighting command."

The allies will also establish a new joint military coordination system by 2009 to replace the current Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command. They plan to establish an Alliance Military Coordination Center (AMCC) under the highest defense channel, the Military Committee (MC), for close coordination of armistice management and strategic issues. The Korea-U.S. Military Committee is a consultative body consisting of the chairmen of the Korean and U.S. joint chiefs of staff, to assist the military committee and strengthen cooperation. The AMCC will link the separate US and ROK commands, with its 10 subordinate institutions. About six coordination bureaus including those regarding information sharing, strategic planning, joint logistics support and digital command operations will also be set up. The two countries are to establish altogether six cooperative bodies, including (1) a joint information center, (2) a joint operational center, and (3) a combined logistics cooperation center to ensure smooth cooperation between Korean troops and the USFK. They also agreed to maintain a combined aviation and space operations center between Korean Army, Navy and Air Force operation commands and their USFK counterparts. They will conduct five joint military exercises in preparation for the handover from 2010 until early 2012 to make sure operational capability is up to scratch.

The 10 institutions will cover joint operational planning, information sharing, crisis management, joint military exercises, combat tactics development, military cooperation abroad, logistics support and the C4I digital command system. Under the new alliance system, ground and naval forces operations will be led by the Korean military, while the United States will provide aerial-centric support to the Korean troops. The alliance's air forces will create a combined air and space operation center to enhance joint command for U.S.-led aerial operations in wartime.

By 2009, the two countries will also repeal the allies' combined war scenario OPLAN 5027 and draw up a new war plan designed for independent operations of the two militaries. Under the OPLAN 5027, if hostilities break out, the United States would deploy up to 690,000 troops, 160 vessels and 2,000 aircraft to the peninsula, in addition to the current troops, which number about 29,000, to remove the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and defeat his 1.17-million-member military. Under a new joint war plan, the number of American soldiers to be deployed and the allies strategy may be changed, defense officials said. Korean military experts say the new war scenario will mainly aim to depose the North's core leaders and neutralize its main war-fighting installations.

"We plan to draw up a new operational plan by the end of 2009," said Brig. Gen. Shin Hyun-don, vice chief of the JCS's strategic planning division. "But the plan is not a final version, as it can be modified through a review based on several exercises till the OPCON transfer," he added. "The South Korean and the U.S. military will use the OPLAN 5027 during their joint drills in the spring and the new operational plan in summer exercises until the OPCON transfer." He stressed that South Korea will take the initiative in making the new plan, with the U.S. supporting the efforts, adding OPLAN 5027 will be scrapped with the return of OPCON to Seoul.

OPLAN 5027, first drawn up in 1974, aims to deter and execute a retaliatory offensive against North Korean forces with an overwhelming projection of troops, fighter jets and combat vessels in the case of a war on the Korean Peninsula. Under the plan, the United States is supposed to dispatch up to 690,000 troops, 2,000 aircraft and 160 ships to the peninsula within 90 days after a war breaks out. OPLAN 5027 is revised every two years and the latest one is 5027-04, made in 2003.

SITE NOTE: OPLAN 5027 was for fighting the war. OPLAN 5029 is for setting up for the implosion…and OPLAN 5030 was to set up the circumstances — just this side of open warfare — to assist in the implosion.

It is OPLAN 5027 Major Theater War - West (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/oplan-5027.htm). It states, "OPLAN 5027 is the US-ROK Combined Forces Command basic warplan. Under Operations Plan 5027 (CINCUNC/CFC OPLAN 5027), the United States plans to provide units to reinforce the Republic of Korea in the event of external armed attack. These units and their estimated arrival dates are listed in the Time Phased Force Deployment List (TPFDL), Appendix 6, to Annex A to CINCUNC/CFC OPLAN 5027. The TPFDL is updated biennially through U.S./ROK agreements. CINCUNC/CFC OPLAN 5027 is distributed with a SECRET-U.S./ROK classification."

However, in 2003, the US made some changes after the ROK refused to allow USFK troops to be used in a regional role. Basically, cutting through all the pleasantries, now the ROK is on its own along the DMZ fending off the North (waiting for the US follow-ons to arrive), while the US is free to turn the North into a rubble heap with massive aerial saturation bombardment perfected during Vietnam — without the niceties of precision bombardment. Not a pretty strategy, but should be effective since fighting the DPRK SOFs in the South will be the major focus in the early days of the war. Seoul, of course, would be rubble as a given.

OPLAN 5029 (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/ops/oplan-5029.htm) under GlobalSecurity.org states, "OPLAN 5029 [also designated Con Plan 5029] is the US-ROK Combined Forces Command to prepare for the collapse of North Korea. The plan is reported to feature preparations by the South Korean and US forces to manage an inflow of North Korean refugees and other unusual situations if the North Korean regime collapses."

"The United States had asked that the plan be approved in 2004. It would have given the United States command over South Korean military assets in the event of rioting, mass defections or a government collapse in the impoverished North. US officials reportedly had argued that the contingency plan was necessary to secure sensitive nuclear and military facilities, and for overall public safety."

OPLAN 5030 was to set up the circumstances that would use up the DPRK's finite resources to facilitate the implosion…using methods just this side of open warfare. The legality of a military operation to overthrow a legally constituted UN-member nation (the DPRK) could be frowned on -- especially if using UNC identified troops of the USFK.

However, the biggest worry is the CONTAINMENT of the anticipated flood of North Korean refugees south. Discussions of OPLAN 5029 in 2003 opened up a Pandora's box for the South. It showed the ROK had not even planned for this eventuality and had only 7 buildings set aside for the anticipated hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing across the DMZ. As far as I know, there are now 11 buildings to contain the hundreds of thousands of refugees that can be expected to the cross the open borders after a North Korean implosion.

Can ROK troops be expected to fire upon the North Korean civilians descending upon them to keep them from crossing the DMZ? It will be the Korean War all over again — only substituting ROK Army for US Army in massacre reports. OPLAN 5029 also provided for provisions the US to do a pincer movement to immediately gain control of the nuclear devices in the North to prevent them from falling into terrorist hands. This portion I have no problem with, but the other parts of the plan make one feel very uneasy.

The US proposed to turn over the government to the ROK so they could set up a democratic government with free elections. In effect, the ROK with 44M people versus DPRK with 23M people — guess who wins? This plan set everyone's teeth on edge…and so it should. It is a very un-democratic plan -- sort of a rigged election where you know the results before you vote.

THIS IS A VERY UN-AMERICAN PLAN. It constitutes interference in international politics by the US military when it turns political control of the DPRK ruins to the South. OPLAN 5029 in this respect is not a good plan. Unfortunately, the other choice is to set up another US-run Iraq-like quagmire — an equally bad choice. I agree with Gen. Colin Powell that the US military has no business in "nation building." Like the Iraq situation, the OPLAN 5029 has no exit strategy.

As for concerns about the scope of U.S. force reinforcements under the Korean-led war plan, the official stressed the U.S. commitment to security on the peninsula. ``Numbers like 690,000 something are not important now. It is more important what forces will come," he said. ``Prior to the joint war plan, the two countries have a mutual defense treaty, and prior to the treaty, we have strong confidence in each other as trusted allies." The Defense Ministry did not say whether the reinforcements will be downsized once Combined Forces Command ceases to exist. But military sources said substantial cuts to the 690,000 U.S. troops now envisaged will be inevitable. U.S. reinforcements are a key component in South Korea's deterrence. (SITE NOTE: This sets the stage for opening negotiations on reductions in the numbers of land troops to be committed to the ROK in case of war. In a "war-fighting support role," the US may radically change the follow-on packages for the ROK. Shin said the number of American soldiers to be dispatched may be changed under the new war plan. He refused to provide details, however, citing the sensitivity of the information. The US previously stated it will concentrate on aerial-centric support meaning air bombardment. In other words, the US will ensure that there is no North Korea to return to if the DPRK invades the South, but the initial land battles will the responsibility of the ROK alone to hold on until follow-on troops arrive.)

After initial implementation, the allies will conduct five joint military exercises between 2010 and 2012 to adapt themselves to the new alliance structure, officials said. During the exercises in the spring of 2010 and 2011, the two allies will carry out drills based on OPLAN 5027, while training during the autumn will be conducted in accordance with the new war plan. The final joint training exercise will be held late February or early March, he said.

Seoul voluntarily put operational control of its military under the U.S.-led U.N. Command shortly after the Korean War broke out in 1950. It took back peacetime operational control of its forces in 1994, and is due to regain wartime operational control as of 10:00 a.m. on April 17, 2012. (Source: Korea Herald and Korea Times.)

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July 2007

Landing Ship Dokdo Commissioned (Jul 2007) South Korea’s first 14,000-ton landing ship (light aircraft carrier) named Dokdo after the country’s easternmost islets sailed near the port of Pusan, on 2 Jul 2007, a day before a commissioning ceremony after two years of sea trials. It was launched in May 2006. The 199-meter-long, 31-meter-wide vessel equipped with sophisticated air warfare systems will serve as a helicopter carrier, a core part of the Navy’s pursuit of a strategic mobile squadron. It is capable of carrying 720 marines, six tanks, seven amphibious assault vehicles, 10 trucks and seven helicopters. Its maximum speed is 23 knots. The Dokdo was built by Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction Co., at a cost of about 500 billion won ($520 million). The vessel is equipped with two Goalkeeper close-in weapon systems, a 12 kilometer-range RAM anti-missile launcher and the latest radar system. (SITE NOTE: In 2006, it was reported that its max speed was to be 43 knots. It was stated then that it would carry 700 troops, 10 CH-60 helicopters, seven amphibious vehicles, six tanks and two small landing boats. )


Landing Ship Dokdo (Jul 2007) It is Korea's first 13,000-ton class multipurpose ship, a light aircraft carrier. The landing ship is able to carry South Korea plans to build another multipurpose ship by 2010 as part of its steps to enhance South Korean navy's capability. The ship will be an element of Korea's mobile fleet to be established in 2010, officials said. The landing transport helicopter (LPH) ship is an amphibious assault ship designed to deliver troops to the battlefield by helicopter. The vessel will be used not only for supporting marine landing operations, but for conducting international humanitarian missions. The Korean Navy has sought to equip itself with the huge transport ships since 2002 under an acquisition project code-named Landing Platform (Experimental) or LPX. The Korean Navy plans to deploy three LPH ships by 2011.

(SITE NOTE: LPX is a versatile helicopter ship, and includes a rear flooding deck to accommodate Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAV's) and two Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC). The ship is 199 metres long, 31 metres wide, with a 14,000 ton(empty)/18,000 ton (full) displacement. This means that LP-X is not only the largest vessel in the South Korean Navy but also substantially larger than the Osumi-class landing ships (8,900 tons) of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, and with a larger payload capacity as well, making it the largest of its kind in the region. Previously, the largest ship in the Korean Navy was the 9,000-ton at-sea Underway Replenishment (UNREP) support vessel Cheonji. The LP-X can carry 720 marines (+300 crew members), 6 tanks, 10 trucks, 7 AAV's, three field artillery pieces, 7 helicopters, and two LCAC hovercrafts capable of landing on enemy shores doing 40 knots—a mix that enables it to launch troop landings from both sea and air. (Source: Wikipedia.))

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Marines work on aviation brigade (Jul 2007) The Marine Corps is working to create an aviation brigade by 2015 as part of efforts to increase independent operational capability. The Marines currently have no aircraft, relying on the Army for aircraft support. Military sources said yesterday the Marine Corps Command is currently recruiting officers who will lead the operations of the rotary-wing aircraft brigade. "This is the first stage of preparations for the establishment of an aviation brigade," a source said on condition of anonymity. Dozens of marine officers will be selected by the end of this month, he said, declining to reveal the exact number. Another source said the number will be between 20 and 30.

Beginning this year, the selected officers will be trained for aerial missions until next year, they said. The marines, a military branch affiliated with the Navy, have officially denied the aviation unit plan. However, they have already made an internal decision to acquire 24 transport helicopters and 18 attack helicopters to support air assault operations, sources said. Military experts have said that the force structure of the marines needs to transform into marine air-ground task forces that integrate ground and air combat capability for effective landing and contingency operations. To accomplish that, they argued that the marines should create a brigade-size aircraft unit that will comprise a transport helicopter squadron, a multi-use helicopter squadron and an attack helicopter squadron. The Marine Corps has been seeking to reinforce its own tactical mobility, firepower, and command and control system as part of the nation's long-term military reform plans, due for completion by 2020. Korea has the world's second largest marine corps after the United States in terms of personnel. Its service members exceed 25,000. (Source: Korea Herald.)

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Military arms buildup to cost W164 trillion over next five years (Jul 2007) The Defense Ministry plans to spend 164 trillion won ($178 billion) to enhance warfare capability by 2012, officials said on 18 Jul. The plan to be implemented from next year includes introduction of weapons systems that will improve surveillance and precision strike capabilities before the nation takes over wartime operational control of the military from the United States by 2012. It is part of the military reform plans aimed at transforming the country's troop-based military into a high-tech equipment-based one by 2020.

The ministry asked the Ministry of Planning and Budget to set aside 26.9 trillion won ($29 billion) for next year's defense budget, up 9.9 percent from 2007, ministry officials said. The proposed defense spending involves some 19.9 trillion won for supporting armed forces and operating weapons systems, and about 7.8 trillion won for arms development or procurement, they said. The draft budget is due to be submitted to the National Assembly later this year for approval, they added. (SITE NOTE: The ROK media loves to use "percent" to indicate its increases, instead of percentage of GDP that provides a more meaningful picture. It also likes to publish the total planned spending. Nothing is said about what happens after the projects are reprioritized, reshuffled, shelved and left unfunded as the funds are moved by the National Assembly committees to other NON-DEFENSE projects.)

Under the five-year plan, military spending will gradually increase to an average of 3 percent of total annual GDP from the current 2.7 percent. Accordingly, the ministry has requested 26.9 trillion won for next year's defense budget, up 9.9 percent from this year, officials said. (SITE NOTE: Unfortunately, this is a joke. Defense spending used to be above 8 percent of GDP up to Kim Young-sam. After the progressives starting with Kim Dae-jung took control spending nosedived to less than 2.8 percent of GDP. In 2003, the US demanded that the ROK increase its spending to 3.2 percent of GDP -- and the ROK agreed, only to renege on the promise and it will remain at under 2.8 percent as long as the progressives remain in power.)

The ministry allocated a total of 56 trillion won for 267 arms buildup projects to greatly enhance Korea's independent surveillance and precision strike capability by 2012. The projects will encompass purchases of high-tech reconnaissance and surveillance systems, such as four E-737 airborne early warning aircraft, multipurpose satellites, and unmanned patrol aircraft, as well as long-range strike forces, including 20 additional F-15K-class war fighters, 48 Patriot missiles, 7,000-ton class Aegis-equipped destroyers and 214-type submarines. (SITE NOTE: The ROK was still hassling with the costs of the E-737 AWACS even though the contract is signed. As to the F-15K aircraft, the original order stated that to be effective 208 aircraft were needed. It was soon cut back and only as a second thought was additional aircraft added. The multipurpose satellites remain a joke with it only having the ability to take pictures as good as Google Earth, though a French firm is said to be working on upgrading the images through software improvements. The PAC-2 was supposed to be in place in 2007 -- and it ain't there yet. The Aegis destroyers are still awaiting approval for SM-3 purchases, but the US Congress must approve the sale.)

The ministry said it will begin a project next year to acquire four high-altitude unmanned surveillance aircraft to upgrade the military's own intelligence capability. The ministry has secured a small amount of budget money to launch the project, aiming to purchase U.S.-made Global Hawks. But it is uncertain whether South Korea will be able to obtain the Global Hawks, priced around $50 million each. (SITE NOTE: The only problem is that the US doesn't want to sell the Global Hawks to the ROK because of fear of technology leaks. As of Jul 2007, there has been no word on the latest 2007 request for US sales. South Korea showed its determination on 18 Jul to procure Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) despite Washington's reluctance to sell the high-altitude surveillance plane, which the United States fears could trigger an arms race in Northeast Asia because of its extended coverage. The U.S. says that the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) should be revised first, noting the UAV, which can deliver weapons of mass destruction, is considered a Category I system or technology of greatest sensitivity under the MTCR. (Source: Hankyoreh News.) The ROK tried to develop its own "go cheap" version of the UAV and unfortunately, it is under-powered so it won't fly high enough to look over the border and doesn't have the ability to remain in the air. It is also fraught with mechanical problems so that it can't provide 24 hour surveillance.)

To beef up strike forces, the military will next year start to purchase 48 second-hand Patriot missiles from Germany under a 1.1 trillion won project code-named SAM-X. The Patriot Advanced Capability-2 missiles, an advanced version of the surface-to-air Patriot missile, will replace the country's aging arsenal of Nike Hercules missiles. (SITE NOTE: The joke is that the ROK is still quibbling about the sales of the USED PAC-2 missiles -- not the latest PAC-3 that the Japanese have deployed around Tokyo -- and the system was supposed to be in place in 2007. Gen Bell has added his frustration by stating that the ROK must develop its own MDS capabilities.)

Beginning in 2009, the Army will deploy newly developed K-20 infantry fighting vehicles. Among the arms procurement programs under the mid-term plan include the development of K-9 self-propelled howitzers, attack helicopters and new landing ships. (SITE NOTE: Supposedly better than the Bradley fighting vehicles it is lighter with a fiberglass frame and has the latest battlefield computer control systems. The biggest point is that these are for export and will be sold to Turkey. Time will tell if the design holds up to the claims. The K-9 SP howitzers are for export while the new attack helicopters are still on the drawing boards -- while the current helicopters will soon reach their end of useable life. As for the landing craft, the ROK shifted its efforts to building a "blue water navy" but left out its landing capabilities. Currently the ROK Marines must rely on US Naval forces to enable it to conduct an amphibious operation -- something that will be affected once the ROK assumes wartime control.)

By 2012, the military will also create theater command and control installations and combined C4I network systems to secure integrated military capabilities of the army, navy and air force. Those digital command and control systems will be core assets for Korea's independent wartime control of its armed forces, the ministry said. Under the mid-term procurement plan, the ministry plans to spend about 56 trillion won ($61 billion) over the next five years for a total of 267 arms acquisition programs centered on upgrading intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and striking capabilities, the ministry said in a press release. The military will set up a joint command-and-control center for the Korean and U.S. militaries, a digital C4I (command, control, communications, computers and intelligence) system, a joint tactical data link system (JTDLS) and develop military satellites, it said. (SITE NOTE: Don't hold your breath on these systems at this time. There are still bugs in it. The latest for the ROKAF was supposedly operational, but there were going to be interface problems with the USFK. This is all in work.)

In conjunction with the acquisition of the up-to-date weapons systems, the military will revamp command structures. The Army will merge the 1st and 3rd armies to establish the Ground Operations Command by 2012, while completing the change of the 2nd Army into the Rear Area Operations Command this year. During the period, one Army corps will be inactivated, leaving seven corps in active duty. (SITE NOTE: This is more from the fact that the ROK is downsizing because of the falling birthrates means less troops to draft. The 650,000 troops will be reduced to 500,000 by 2012.)

During the period, the Air Force Northern Combat Group will also be created to lead five fighter wings in forward lines, they said. In 2005, the government launched an ambitious military reform aimed at bolstering Korea's self-reliant defense capability while reducing its dependence on U.S. troops here. Under the plan, troops will be equipped with state-of-the-art weapons systems and streamlined from 680,000 to 500,000 in number. (Source: Korea Herald.)

Meanwhile, the Navy said on 18 Jul it will relocate the naval operational command in the southern port city of Jinhae to southeastern Busan, and the 3rd Fleet in Busan to southwestern Mokpo. The relocation, scheduled this year, is designed for an effective defense of eastern and western waters that currently fall under the responsibility of the 1st and 2nd fleets. The Navy announced on 18 Jul its operational command is to be relocated to Busan this year to enhance combat readiness. The Naval Operational Command is now located in Jinhae, a southern port city known for its topographic advantages. But the waters off the coast of Jinhae are said to be too shallow to accommodate brand-new huge vessels, Navy officials said. In addition, the 3rd Fleet Command, currently in Busan, will be transferred to Mokpo, South Jeolla Province, around December, a Navy spokesman said. ``We took into account how we can utilize ports in Busan and Mokpo to carry out joint naval operations with the United States more effectively,'' the spokesman said

The Navy will create a strategic mobile squadron involving the KDX-III Aegis ship and Type 214 submarines (1,800-ton) in 2010 as part of an effort to develop its blue-water capability, the Ministry of National Defense said on 18 Jul. The plan is part of the ministry's mid-term defense buildup program for 2008-2012, with a focus on enhancing the country's independent defense capability in preparation for Seoul's exercise of wartime operational control beginning 2012, ministry officials said.

The strategic mobile squadron will be comprised of a 14,000-ton large-deck landing ship, a KDX-III Aegis destroyer, two KDX-II stealth destroyers, 1,800-ton submarines, anti-submarine aircraft, a support vessel and frigates. Early this month, the Navy commissioned its first 14,000-ton Dokdo-class Landing Platform Helicopter, which can serve as a light aircraft carrier to orchestrate the mobile squadron that can be rapidly deployed in regional conflict. A new naval base on the southern Jeju Island will serve as the home port for the squadron, the spokesman said.

The Navy also launched its first 7,600-ton Aegis destroyer last month, becoming the fourth nation having warshiops armed with the U.S.-developed Aegis combat system after the United States, Japan, Spain and Norway. Two more Aegis ships will be commissioned by 2012. The Navy has six 5,000-ton KDX-II destroyers fitted with radar-evading technology and two Type 214 submarines. (Source: Korea Times)

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August 2007

Ulchi-Focus Lens Speculation of Delay or Downsize due to Summit (Aug 2007) Seoul is considering delaying or reducing the scale of the annual UFL war game exercise with the United States in order to avoid raising tensions with the North before this month's inter-Korean summit, several sources said 9 Aug in Washington.

(SITE NOTE: This is as a result of the surprise 28-30 Aug summit between Roh Moo-hyun and Kim Jong-il announced on 8 Aug. The North has already called the UFL a "provocation" and the Roh administration does not want any hiccups to affect the summit. The summit meeting of the two Koreas has been welcomed by the nations involved in the six-party nuclear talks, but Washington stressed on 9 Aug that the focus on the nuclear talks should not be lost. There are still "questions that need to be answered in terms of whether or not North Korea has truly made that strategic decision to give up its nuclear programs. The Bush administration was not convinced that Pyongyang had actually committed itself to giving up its nuclear ambitions. The United States remains the key player in the six-party talks, because North Korea wants to normalize relations with Washington as a step toward greater international legitimacy. Official recognition by Washington would carry both economic and security benefits for North Korea. Washington wants the North to come clean on an alleged uranium-based nuclear program, while it also wants all nuclear weapons scrapped. Pyongyang has only expressed a willingness to close down nuclear facilities.)

(SITE NOTE: There are precedents for scaling back the UFL. In 2000, UFL-00 was scaled down to avoid irritating North Korea. The South Korean military did not send as many reserve troops to Ulchi Focus Lens. A large tank crossing on the Han River in the middle of Seoul also was canceled. in the wake of a successful summit June 13-15 between South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, the two countries sought to reduce tensions. However, note that this was AFTER the summit. (Source: GlobalSecurity.org.) By UFL-03, the joint drill numbers had dropped from 14,000 US troops stationed in Korea and 56,000 ROK troops to some 6,500 U.S. troops in Korea (with an equal number in outside Korea) and 8,000 South Korean soldiers deployed in South Korea, along with troops sent here specifically for the exercise. Roughly 14,500 U.S. forces personnel total participated in UFL-03. UFL-2007 will involve about 10,000 American troops in the exercise, with about half of them from outside of Korea -- while some 500 key players from outside Korea will actually be deployed to Korea. The numbers of ROK involved was not announced. The estimated total number will be 10,000 US forces with around 56,000 ROK troops.)

In response to the evolving threat and an expanding mission, Raytheon and the U.S. Navy are developing the next generation of Extended Range Anti-air Warfare Missile (ERAM). This weapon will take advantage of the proven capabilities of the Standard Missile airframe and semi-active guidance technology, merged with the advanced seeker technology of Raytheon’s AMRAAM Air-to-Air missile. The combination of these two technologies will provide the Navy with the ability to engage challenging targets, at extended ranges, well into the future.

The Extended Range Active Missile (ERAM), tentatively designated SM-6, will add an extended range, overland cruise missile defense capability. The Navy's recommended strategy, based on a market analysis, is to pursue a sole-source acquisition through Raytheon Missile Systems. This low-risk approach relying on Non-Developmental Items will support an FY 2010 IOC. This approach will utilize the existing production active seeker from AMRAAM Phase III, utilize the existing production airframe from the Standard Missile-2 Block IV, leverage multi-service investments in future technology growth path, and leverage existing production infrastructures and workforces. (Source: GlobalSecurity.org.)

South Korea became the fifth country in the world last year to have an Aegis destroyer following the United States, Japan, Spain and Norway and the third to have the Aegis ship with a displacement of 7,600 tons. The Aegis destroyers in Spain and Norway both have a displacement of 4,600 tons. (Source: Yonhap News and Chosun Ilbo.)

However, the SM-6 deal is NOT a done-deal yet. The SM-6, or Standard Missile-6, with a range of 320 to 400 kilometers, is expected to help intercept the North’s incoming ballistic missiles at an earlier stage, Navy officials said. Previously, the South Korean Navy wanted to buy more than 200 ship-to-air SM-2 Block IIIA/B missiles with a range of 170 kilometers to equip its advanced KDX series of destroyers. A senior source at the Defense Ministry said on 20 Jan 2008, Korea plans "to deploy SM-6 long-range sea-to-air missiles on the King Sejong-class destroyer, which we launched last year, and two other Aegis destroyers that will be built. A lot of progress has been made in Seoul-Washington talks on their purchase." "We haven’t made a final decision yet on the purchase of SM-6 missiles because they are still being developed now,” another Navy official said on condition of anonymity. “We’ll keep reviewing the feasibility of both SM-2 Block IIIA/B and SM-6 missiles.”

The official stressed, however, the potential purchase of the extended range SM-4 missile has nothing to do with the U.S.-led ballistic missile defense network, in which Japan is actively participating against possible attacks from North Korea. South Korea has not taken part in the U.S. missile shield because of financial constraints and possible anti-U.S. sentiments. It also does not want to look to provoke neighboring countries such as North Korea and China. However, some South Korean military authorities are worried that the SM-6 missiles cannot be linked to the U.S. missile defense system, given that they have a far lower intercept altitude than the SM-3 missiles. But others argue to ensure proper use of SM-6 missiles, the South Korean Navy will naturally be linked to the U.S. missile defense system, considering that it will need the assistance of some intelligence reconnaissance devices, including spy satellites and radars, in the U.S. MD system.

For use as an anti-air warfare and theater air-defense missile, the SM-6 is expected to provide extended-range anti-air warfare capability against a multitude of targets, including aircraft, land-attack and anti-ship cruise missiles in flight, either over sea or land, missile experts said. With its active radar system the SM-6 is also expected to engage over-the-horizon targets using a future networked fire-control data system for targeting, they said.

South Korea will launch two more 7,600-ton KDX-III ships, equipped with Lockheed Martin-built Aegis combat system and state-of-the-art anti-air, land-attack and anti-sup missiles, by 2012. That’s when South Korea’s low-altitude missile defense shield, dubbed the Korea air and missile defense (KAMD) network system, will be fully operational. The KAMD will involve Patriot Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) interceptors, ship-based air defense systems and a ballistic missile early warning radar to be built by the state-run Agency for Defense Development with technological support from foreign countries, military sources said.

The terminal-phase defense aims to intercept targets about 40 kilometers north of Seoul. To that end, the country’s defense procurement agency approved the $1 billion SAM-X project last September to purchase 48 second-hand PAC-2 launch modules, radars and missiles, including the Patriot Anti-Tactical Missile and Guidance Enhanced Missile Plus (GEM+) from Germany beginning this year. The agency plans to buy Raytheon’s ground-control equipment to support two Patriot system battalions. (Source: DefenseNews.com.) (SITE NOTE: We have been awaiting the arrival of the oft promised PAC-2 missiles for over three years. When they arrive we will be pleasantly surprised. But then comes the next moves of the USFK of deciding whether to keep its PAC-3s at Suwon and Seoul. Future news...)

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January 2008

Global Hawk Funding Cut from Budget (Jan 2008) The government plan to purchase Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from the United States was expected to hit a snag as the National Assembly cut almost all the budget proposed for the project in late December. The National Assembly cut 5.8 billion won of 5.85 billion won proposed for the introduction of high-altitude UAVs, citing a U.S. arms sale ban on the spy plane. Seoul has sought to purchase four Global Hawks by 2011 as part of efforts to build independent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for its planned takeover of wartime operational control of its military from the United States in 2012. The Global Hawk is capable of surveying vast areas with near pinpoint accuracy from as high as 65,000 feet for up to 35 hours continuously. Per-unit price is $45-60 million.

The plan has been stalled, however, as overseas sales of the aircraft are prohibited under the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). The MTCR is a voluntary association of countries that share the goal of non-proliferation of ballistic missiles and other unmanned delivery systems that could be used for chemical, biological and nuclear attacks. The Assembly approved an 8.8 percent increase in military spending for this year.

The budget calls for 26.6 trillion won ($28.5 billion) in military expenditure including 18.9 trillion won for operating costs, up 6.5 percent from the previous year; and 7.6 trillion won for an arms buildup, up 15 percent, the ministry said in a new release. The ministry originally proposed a 9 percent increase in its defense budget. The increase in the defense budget is in line with Seoul's efforts to transform its military into a ``smaller but stronger'' one equipped with high-tech weapons systems under the Defense Reform 2020 initiative. This year, the ministry plans to launch about 30 new arms acquisition projects including the procurement of next-generation infantry fighting vehicles, landing ships, thermal sensors and joint data link systems. (Source: Korea Times.)

S. Korea scraps plan to buy UAVs due to weapons treaty (Jan 2008) The South Korean military won’t be getting the unmanned airplanes the national assembly budgeted for because buying them from the United States would violate a multinational accord, Ministry of Defense officials said Friday. The assembly cut 5.8 billion won (about $6.2 million) that was earmarked in its defense budget for eventual procurement of Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles because buying them from U.S.-based Northrop Grumman would have violated the Missile Technology Control Regime, the MND spokesman confirmed. The accord was created in 1987 by the United States and six other nations to control unmanned systems capable of delivering nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. The MTCR now includes 34 countries, and in 1992, it was expanded to include unmanned airplanes. The defense ministry asked for UAV funding early in 2007 in hopes that the United States would lift the ban before the recent budget round. (SITE NOTE: The key point is that within the ROK the decision is blamed on money cuts, while in the US media it is blamed on the MTCR -- which Russia objects to selling the Global Hawk to Korea. However, it must be pointed out that the ROK disregarded the MTCR when it built its own indigenous cruise missile despite the objections of the US. The MTCR is just a piece of paper to the ROK.)

The ministry still hopes to acquire UAVs and has no plans to acquire additional, alternate surveillance technology, the spokesman said. The national assembly approved an 8.8 percent increase in military spending for this year to 26.6 trillion won ($28 billion), which is close to what the defense ministry requested. The ministry is on track to take over wartime operational control of its forces from the United States in 2012. Price quotes vary on the Global Hawk’s cost. Northrop Grumman estimated costs for its first-generation model at $21 million for each jet, according to earlier reports. Electronic sensors cost $11 million and the mission control system used to control multiple aircraft costs another $11 million.

However, the Government Accountability Office criticized the Global Hawk in 2006 for costing $130.5 million per aircraft. That figure included everything from testing to support equipment. The Shadow 200 UAVs more commonly used by the U.S. Army in South Korea cost about $275,000, according to globalsecurity.org. However, Shadows operate at a 15,000-foot ceiling and often fly lower. They also carry far less payload and have about a tenth the wingspan. Global Hawks, used by the U.S. Navy and Air Force, can stay in the air for up to 36 hours, according to Northrop Grumman. (Source: Stars and Stripes.)

Real Reason for backing out of UAV Sale: Cost (Jan 2008) South Korea has backed out of a deal to buy four American Global Hawk UAVs. The official reason given was that such a purchase would violate the MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime) treaty. This is a 1987 agreement meant to control the proliferation of unmanned systems capable of delivering nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. In 1992, the treaty was amended to include unmanned aircraft (in addition to ballistic and cruise missiles). Currently, 34 nations have signed on to the MTCR.

The real reason for backing out of the Global Hawk deal was sticker shock. While much was made of the basic cost of each Global Hawk ($21 million), a South Korea government report subsequently pointed out that the overall cost of each UAV could go as high as $131 million. Meanwhile, the much smaller Shadow 200 UAV (which the U.S. Army uses extensively to support brigade and division intelligence efforts) costs about $300,000 each, and can do most of what the South Koreans want the Global Hawk to do. According to the South Koreans, the Shadow 200 doesn't violate the MTCR. (Source: Strategy.com.)

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Cyber-attack on Military Computers from China (Jan 2008) It was reported on 7 Jan that South Korea is complaining openly of a Cyber War campaign, coming out of China, that seeks to gain access to PCs belonging to members of the South Korean armed forces. This is a targeted attack, using lists of email addresses harvested from military web sites and other sources. The intention appears to be to discover what military personnel have on their PCs, and take anything of interest. Japanese and Taiwanese military personnel have gotten into trouble recently for having unauthorized data (usually classified) on their PCs (usually in the form of taking work home). Apparently someone in China noticed this, and decided to test a new Cyber War tactic on the South Koreans. (Source: Strategy.com.)

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Military Launches New High-Tech Command System (Jan 2008) Korea's military has a new high-tech command system that uses real-time multimedia reports to keep top brass informed and in control of what's going on in the field as it happens. Called the Korea Joint Command Control System, or KJCCS, the system lets military leaders command battlefield units as they watch up-to-the-minute reports on a large-screen monitor in the Joint Chiefs of Staff situation room. (SITE NOTE: The ROK JCS planned to integrate each of the Armed Forces C4I systems into a single C4I system called the Korea Joint Command and Control System(KJCCS) by 2009 and have it operational on 2010. The ROK military is also expected to start using the joint civilian and military Mugunghwa 5 satellite for communications between its units and headquarters around the end of 2007. There is also the possibility that the ROK military will use civilian Arirang 3 (optical camera with 70cm resolution), 3A (infrared camera), and 5 (radar) satellites for intelligence gathering purposes. (Source: Naver.com.) There are still hiccups with the system as the intelligence value of satellite imagery is as good as Google Earth.)

KJCCS was launched on Jan. 1 after three years and tens of billions of won in development. The system connects the JCS with the operations commands of Korea's Army, Navy and Air Force. It allows top military leaders a thorough understanding of the deployment of all weapons and troops of all three military branches at the same time.

Combat situations can be uploaded to the system in the form of photographs, videos and graphics. Reporting, commanding and intelligence-sharing can be done in real time. Military leaders in the situation room can make judgments on battlefield conditions as they evolve and immediately issue commands to subordinate units.

A JCS officer said the new system gives Korea's military operational capabilities a tremendous boost. "This will be very helpful to us when we take over wartime operational control from the U.S. in April 2012," the officer said. Until now the Korean military has relied on the U.S. Forces Korea's system, called Global Command Control System-Korea, in emergencies and during joint exercises. (SITE NOTE: The US uses the GCCS system and offered the Global Command and Control System-Korea (GCCS-K) system to the ROK. The two systems are manually interfaced as the ROK is not allowed into the full data-base of the GCCS system. Last reports was that the GCCS-K system will be installed in Camp Humphreys. CENTRIXS (Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System) is a secure multinational sharing system for transmission of classified information to replace the GCCS-K system. Migration to the CENTRIXS system began in 2006 and currently undergoing testing for certification. The current task performed under this effort is the GCCS-K migration to CENTRIXS-K. This migration for USPACOM and USFK personnel will provide:

• Interoperability Assessments of rider systems
• Information Assurance and DITSCAP support for the transition
• Network optimization assistance

In addition to system testing by JITC (Joint Interoperability Test Command), modeling and simulation will also play a part in this task. This will greatly assist in the network optimization portion, but can also be used to ensure that information exchange requirements can be fully met by the system. The total timeline for this migration is through FY06. There are numerous systems that must be assessed to ensure a seamless migration to the CENTRIXS baseline. (Source: Joint Interoperability Test Command.))

The only remaining task for the new command control system is to connect superior units -- the JCS and the operations commands of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force -- with corps headquarters and lower units. Authorities expect the system will be completed around 2011. The new command control system is on the nearly the same high technological level as that of the USFK. (Source: Chosun Ilbo.) (SITE NOTE: Though the real time-data is a nice feature, it is still in the beginning stages. The new K-2 tank and personnel carriers are equipped with computer systems to relay real time battle info, the remainder of the ROK war equipment does NOT have this capability. Unlike USFK tanks and mobile artillery and field units, the ROK is still playing catch up.)

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Arirang 1 Dies (Jan 2008) On 9 Jan it was reported that after eight years of operation, South Korea lost communication (on the last day of 2007) with its first space satellite; Arirang-1. This bird was only expected to last three years, but until the commo malfunction, it continued to perform. Its cameras only have a 6.5 meter resolution (the latest U.S. spy sats are a thousand times more detailed). In 2006, a second satellite, Arirang-2, was launched, and it had a resolution of one meter. Arirang-1 circles the globe about 14 times a day at an altitude of 685 kilometers. Most likely, Arirang-1 just got old and died, probably from a power system failure. It will probably be declared lost, if communications cannot be restored soon. (Moderator's Note: Arirang-1 was launch as research satellite, hence a civilian use only. But Arirang is not the first civilian satellites to be used by military.)

South Korea teamed with Israeli firms to develop the cameras for the Arirang series of satellites. South Korea plans to launch a dozen or more additional satellites up in the next two years. South Korea uses Russian launchers to put its satellites into orbit. (Source: Strategy.com.)

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ROK Military AIM-9 Procurements (Jan 2008) Korea Times on 14 Jan reported that Raytheon Missile Systems of the United States has been awarded a contract to build AIM-9X tactical air-to-air missiles for the ROK's F-15K aircraft, the U.S. Department of Defense said in a press release. The ROK Air Force will receive a total of 102 AIM-9X missiles, and associated equipment and services, it said.

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First Type 214 Sub In-service for ROK (Jan 2008) On 16 Jan it was reported that South Korea received its first Type 214 submarine, the Son Won Il. In early November 2000 the ROK Defense Ministry picked the German firm Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW) and its Type 214 submarine as the foreign contractor for the next-generation "KSS-II" submarine project to supply three 1,800 ton-class submarines to the Navy by 2009. HHI, a shipbuilding arm of the giant Hyundai Group, outbid rival Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Ltd. to team up with HDW. HHI won the contract as it offered lower prices and was in better financial shape than Daewoo Shipbuilding. In early November 2000 the ROK Defense Ministry picked the German firm Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft AG (HDW) and its Type 214 submarine as the foreign contractor for the next-generation "KSS-II" submarine project to supply three 1,800 ton-class submarines to the Navy by 2009.

The boat was built in South Korea, using licensed technology from the German developer (HDW) of the Type 214 boats. Two years ago, the South Koreans dropped plans to build several large, 3,000 ton, diesel-electric subs. Instead, six more 1,600 ton Type 214 subs will be built over the next 14 years, in addition to the three already planned.

The Type 214 is a 1,700 ton, 202 foot long boat, with a crew of 27. It has four torpedo tubes and a top submerged speed of 35 kilometers an hour. Maximum diving depth is over 1,200 feet. In Jun 2006 Korea launched the 214 class Sohn Won-il from Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan in what experts say is a major step from Korea's existing subs in terms of operational capability and power. While the sub is not quite up to the level of the large nuclear submarines of China, Russia and the U.S., among diesel and electricity-propelled craft, the Sohn Won-il is as powerful as they come and extends the potential scope of operations for the South Korean Navy to the Philippines and the island of Hainan, China. The 214 class submarines can go without snorkeling for two or three weeks, thanks to an Air Independent Propulsion System (AIPS) which works without air. Korea has become the first country to launch an AIPS submarine in Northeast Asia. Japan, a submarine powerhouse, is in the middle of building a 3,000-ton class submarine, the 16SS, which is larger than the 214s and equipped with AIPS. It will be ready by around 2008. The Shon Won-il accommodates a crew of 40. The 214 costs W350 billion (US$350 million) and the Navy plans to acquire nine of them by around 2020. The Navy planned to build six 1,800-ton level Type 214 submarines between 2012 and 2020 and deploy three 3,500-ton class next-generation vessels in the field by 2020 in stages.

South Korea already has nine 1,100 ton Type 209 subs, designed and built in Germany. The Type 214 boats use fuel cells, enabling them to stay underwater for up to two weeks. The South Koreans like their 209s, but got nervous because the first 214 recently received by Greece, had a long list of problems. Greece bought four Type 214 submarines from Germany. The first one arrived a little over a year ago, and the Greeks quickly found themselves with a list of 400 defects. The other three 214s are being built in Greece, and the first one of those is about ready for launch. The problems were resolved over the next year. Most of the fuss had more to do with a recent change of power in the Greek government, than to any fundamental flaws in the subs. South Korea learned what Greek Type 214 was suffering from and took steps to avoid the same problems. As a result, Korean Type 214 had no problem during its shakedown cruise.

Son Wonil Submarine Problems (Mar 2008) The ROKN’s submarine plans has hit a bit of a snag when it was discovered that its latest submarine, the ROKS Son Wonil, is noisier(about 40 decibels higher) than expected, making it easier to detect by enemy vessels. The problem has been traced to the screw shaft, and as a result the Son Wonil will be going back to the Hyundai shipyard, where it was built, to have the shaft replaced. In addition, its AIP(Air Indepedent Propulsion) unit, which increases its underwater endurance, seems to be not functioning properly and the sub is reported to heel over 40 degrees during cruising.

Interesingly, HDW, the German company that designed the sub, last year put down USD 5 million of its own money and pledged to solve the problems in one year, before the sub’s commissioning last year. Each of the three initial boats cost USD 350 million and the ROKN is looking to buying six more.

On the other side of the world, Greece is having problems with its own HDW designed sub which is the same class as the Son Wonil. In this case, the Greeks have refused to take delivery of the sub and there are apparently ”diplomatic tensions” between Germany and Greece. (Source: Chosun.com and Naver News.)

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Boeing Offers Free Extra F-15K (Jan 2008) The American manufacturer of South Korea's next-generation fighter jet F-15K recently offered an extra one for free, it was learned recently. One jet costs approximately W100 billion (US$1=944). An official with the Defense Acquisition Program Administration on Sunday said a senior Boeing executive made the offer in talks for the second-phase next-generation fighter project (F-X) aimed at purchasing another 20 F-15Ks by 2012. The South Korean Air Force is pursuing the first-phase F-X project to purchase 40 F-15Ks between 2005 and the end of 2008. It has already taken possession of 30 from Boeing. One of them crashed into waters off Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province in June 2006 as a result of the pilot's spatial disorientation. A South Korean military source said Boeing made the offer “to make up for the one lost F-15K, while expressing its thanks to the South Korean government for deciding to purchase 20 more F-15k fighters." DAPA effectively concluded the talks about everything except the engines. DAPA agreed to buy the 20 planes for some W2.1 trillion. Negotiations on engines will be concluded by the end of this month. (Source: Chosun Ilbo.) (SITE NOTE: The "free" aircraft might be more of a negotiating ploy for the purchase of the 20 more F-15Ks by 2012. A free F-15K might help offset any bad press from the recent groundings of all USAF F-15A-Ds because of an inflight mishap due to cracks in a longeron. However, the Seoul Shimbun (hangul) stated that this "free" F-15K may come without engines -- because the ROK has the contract for the engines.)

UPDATE: (Feb 2008) On 28 Feb 2008, the Ministry of Defense publicly announced that it was declining the Boeing offer of a free F-15K. In response a Boeing representative said that Boeing had never made such an offer and it was misrepresented in the media.

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Feb 2008

ROK UAV Crash (Feb 2008) RIA Novosti on 31 Jan reported that a ROK unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used to monitor DPRK troop movements crashed near the heavily fortified inter-Korean border, national television said. The Israeli-made Searcher UAV in service with the ROK Air Force went down near the city of Pocheon, 25 kilometers (about 15 miles) south of the Demilitarized Zone, the YTN television said, citing military sources.

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Combined forces of S. Korea, U.S. to hold annual drill (Feb 2008) The combined forces of South Korea and the United States will hold their first joint exercise in March to test Seoul's war-waging capabilities after it retakes the wartime operational control of South Korean troops from the United States in 2012, officials at the Combined Forces Command (CFC) said on 1 Feb. The new drill, Key Resolve, replaces the annual joint exercise, Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration (RSOI), and will be held March 2 through March 7, the CFC said in a released statement. The new exercise will involve similar maneuvers, but ROK forces will take on more leadership in preparation for the command transfer, said U.S. Military spokesman Kim Yong-kyu. (Source: Yonhap News.)

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FMS Sales Program Upgraded Status Bill (Feb 2008) On 14 Feb Congressman Ed Royce (R–CA 40th) submitted a bill that calls for strengthening military cooperation between the two countries by upgrading South Korea to the level of "NATO Plus Three (Japan, Australia, New Zealand)" in the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. According to Royce, Korea imported $3.7 billion worth of arms from the United States in the last year alone. He noted the amount is more than any of the other three nations. Royce said, "It's unreasonable not to grant preferential treatment to South Korea, which has been a 60-year-long friend of the U.S. and where 29,000 American soldiers are stationed." If the bill is approved, Korea would be allowed to purchase more advanced U.S. arms, including F-22s and the Global Hawk, an unmanned spy aircraft. If the bill is passed, U.S. congressional approval for Korean arms purchases would be quickened from the current 50 days to 15 days. (SITE NOTE: The sale of the F-22s and Global Hawk would probably not be allowed because of technology transfer concerns.)

A similar bill was introduced by Senator Christopher Bond at the end of last year. No action has been taken. U.S. Senator Christopher Bond (R–Mo.) submitted a bill that would make South Korea's purchase of U.S. weapons cheaper and faster by shortening the review period, reducing the number of weapons subject to review and cutting the purchasing commission. (Source: Joongang Ilbo.) (SITE NOTE: This is on the eve of President-elect Lee Myeong-bak's inauguration and the relief the US has felt over the removal of Roh Moo-hyun from office. In April 2008, the conservatives are expected to sweep the elections and create a pro-US atmosphere in Korea that has been missing for a decade.)

Senate approves upgrade of S. Korea's arms purchase status (Oct 2008) The U.S. Senate has approved a bill on the elevation of South Korea's status in purchasing U.S. arms, Seoul's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae said on 2 Oct. The approval on Wednesday upgrades the country's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) status to that held by NATO, Japan, Australia and New Zealand. (Source: Yonhap News.)

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K-9 Thunder/T-155 Firtina (Feb 2008) There is no doubt about the really important position the South Korea is holding within the combat armoured vehicles sector. In fact, South Korea is one among the very few countries able, in recent years, to locally develop a new main battle tank, a new AIFV, and a new self-propelled 155/52 mm howitzer. Designed as K-9 THUNDER (T-155 FIRTINA in Turkey, where it is produced under license), this latter is presented in the article from all its aspects. (Source: Enrico Po, Land Vehicles, pages: 72-78.)

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Korea Considering Specialized Hostage Rescue Unit (Feb 2008) The Korean military is studying plans to create a specialized unit that would be responsible for carrying out rescue operation of Korean citizens held hostage overseas. The Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) has apparently been studying four plans since November on order from Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo. The state-run think tank is preparing the legal grounds to dispatch military rescuers without parliamentary approval when Koreans are abducted abroad. Korean anti-terrorism commandos went to the Afghan capital of Kabul last year after the 23 Koreans were abducted.

The plan being most considered is one that would provide legal grounds to send a small operational unit overseas to rescue Korean hostages without prior consent from the National Assembly. A military official said it began studying plans due to criticism that Korea was overly dependent on diplomatic channels in resolving the abduction of 23 Koreans by the Taliban in Afghanistan last year. (SITE NOTE: The US and UN had prepared plans to free hostages in Afghanistan, but the ROK nixed the idea. Basically the Roh administration painted a bullseye on every Korean tourist in the world when they paid between $4-10 million (that they deny) to the Taliban. At this time, this is only a pipe dream as the ROK still wants "safe passage" for ROK troops involved in international (peacekeeping) affairs. We have no doubts that if it were implemented, the ROK would be a feared component much like the Israelis units. But the ROK first has to have a steadfast policy to never negotiate with hostage takers...which it doesn't. )

KIDA is looking at creating a permanent unit — composed of men from sources like the 707th Special Mission Unit and ROK Navy Special Warfare Brigade. The Defense Ministry is already considering plans to modernize said units’ equipment and training grounds, as well as sending them overseas for training. KIDA is also researching ways to strengthen the government’s organizational ability to make quick and responsible decisions when Koreans are held hostage overseas. (SITE NOTE: The unit would be similar to the US Seals or Special Forces units -- instead of a SWAT Team. We have no doubt that such a unit would be formidable. ) (Source: Naver News.)

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ROKAF Unveils Space Strategy The ROKAF has unveiled a three stage plan that will see it deploying spy satellites and anti-satellite weapons by 2020. For the first stage, it will start research on a laser based anti-satellite system and deploy a radar capable of tracking ballistic missiles. The second stage will see the deployment of an optical satellite tracking system, and equipment capable of receiving images taken by satellites. This will all culminate with the deployment of spy satellites, satellite launch vehicles, and a laser capable of shooting down satellites. (SITE NOTE: This is tied in with the ROK starting its own launching facilities with the use of Russian technology. The ROK with Israeli technology now has a so-so spy satellite, but it should be improved in later models. The last part of developing laser shootdown technology sounds interesting. But this is all dream stuff with a vision for 2020. Hey, I remember sci-fi movies that said we would have personal space shuttles by 2000...remember the movie 2001? Keep dreaming.)

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New armored vehicle to go into mass production (Feb 2008) The Defense Ministry on 21 Feb endorsed a plan to begin mass production of its newly developed heavy infantry armed vehicles this year, the military procurement agency said. Senior defense officials approved it during the 26th defense project promotion committee meeting, with the aim of deploying the K-21 infantry fighting vehicle in 2009, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration said.

The K-21 is the Army's first infantry fighting vehicle. Its development was completed last year, at a cost of 91 billion won ($96 million). The armored vehicle is intended to be a major part of the nation's forces in any future ground battles.

Beginning in 2009, the military plans to deploy about 900 K-21s so that the Army can increase its troop mobility. The 25-ton K-21 is designed to support mechanized infantry troops for combined operations with tank forces. It is armed with a stabilized 40-millimeter cannon, a 7.62-millimeter machine gun and an anti-tank guided missile launcher. It is able to carry a total of nine infantry soldiers and a crew of three. The K-21 can travel at a maximum speed of 76 kilometers per hour. It can also engage in amphibious missions, moving at 6 kilometers per hour in the water. Military officials expect the K-21 to enhance the survivability of troops which previously relied on light-armored K-200 personnel carriers. (Source: Korea Herald.)

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Korea in Talks to Buy F-35 Fighters (Feb 2008) Lockheed Martin, a leading multinational aerospace manufacturer, announced on 21 Feb that it is in talks with governments in the Asia-Pacific region to sell F-35 fighter jets. According to the Wall Street Journal, George Standridge, Lockheed Martin's vice president for F-35s, said at the Singapore Air Show that the company aims to sell some 500 F-35 aircrafts to four likely buyers -- Japan, South Korea, Australia and Singapore -- that are positioned to upgrade their models. The F-35 fighter has been described as a multi-role aircraft that can perform close air support, tactical bombing and air-to-air combat and is in high demand for its affordability, durability and because it can replace a wide range of aircraft. (Source: Chosun Ilbo.) (See 2nd F-X open for bids, but Korea plans to buy F-35 stealth fighters AFTER 2012 (Mar 2007).)

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Korea, US to Boost Roles of Combined Marine Forces (Feb 2008) The South Korean and U.S. Marine Corps will enhance their combined operational capability in case of war on the Korean Peninsula, military sources said on 22 Feb. To that end, the two sides agreed to upgrade the current Combined Marine Forces Command (CMFC) to the Combined Marine Forces Component Command (CMCC), a source said. Gen. Kim Kwan-jin, chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) and Gen. B. B. Bell, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, signed a related memorandum of agreement in Seoul earlier this week, JCS officials said.

The commander of South Korea's Marine Corps will lead the combined component command during peacetime, while a three-star U.S. Marine commander is expected to take charge of combined operations in case of an emergency, they said. The move to boost the roles and missions of the combined Marine forces is in line with Seoul's execution of independent wartime operational control of its military beginning April 17, 2012, when the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) is also to be dismantled, Marine officials said. (SITE NOTE: Do you really believe that the US will allow the US Marines to be led by a ROK General?)

Even after the inactivation of the CFC, the two Marine Corpss will be able to conduct more powerful and effective amphibious assaults against North Korea in the event of a war, they said. ``The change of the name and structure means the two Marine forces will be able to lead combat operations independently and more effectively,'' a Marine official said, asking not to be named.

The current roles of the combined Marine Corpses under the CMFC mechanism are to support combat operations of other forces, he said. In case of a war, the U.S. 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force based in Okinawa, Japan, is to dispatch troops to the peninsula to participate in combined operations with the Korean Marine Corps forces. (SITE: After 2014 when the 3rd MEU moves to Guam, how will this be impacted? There will be a lot of shifts -- though the staging area for the 3rd MEU in Ulsan will be integral in the US Marine support in case of an invasion.) (Source: Korea Times.)

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March 2008

WTF???? Raytheon wins Korea's Patriot contract (Mar 2008) Raytheon announced on 3 Mar it won an initial contract to provide engineering services for the U.S. sale of the Patriot air and missile defense system to South Korea. The Massachusetts-based company said through a statement that it expects significant follow-on awards to complete the system integration as well as training of Korean operators. (SITE NOTE: Previously the ROK stated it was negotiating with Germany for used PAC-2 Patriots and it was supposed to be installed by 2008. This would be the maintenance contract for the PAC-2. Raytheon is only selling the ROKAF the equipment and services to enable it to integrate and operate the second hand PAC-2s. A blog stated, "According to a local military magazine, Raytheon did submit a quotation for upgrading the second-hand German launchers and associated equipment to handle PAC-3s in addition to new-build PAC-3 missiles. I don’t quite remember the actual $ figure, but I believe it was in the 100 ~ 200 million dollars range. But don’t expect the project to go ahead, because according to the magazine, the ROKAF general staff and the MND blanched when they saw the said quotation.")

South Korea Chooses Raytheon's Patriot for Air and Missile Defense Capability Upgrade (Mar 2008) Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has received an initial contract to provide engineering services related to a U.S. government Foreign Military Sale of the Patriot air and missile defense system to South Korea.

Raytheon expects significant follow-on awards to complete the system integration and to provide command and control, communications and maintenance support equipment, as well as the training of Korean operators and maintainers and technical assistance to the deployed systems. "There is a strong continuing demand, both domestically and internationally, for the combat-proven Patriot system," said Joseph "Skip" Garrett, deputy of Patriot Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. "Our Patriot systems will provide South Korea the capability to defend itself from the full spectrum of air and missile threats. Raytheon is committed to ensuring Patriot continues to provide our U.S. warfighters and international allies with a superior, affordable and reliable air and missile defense capability to meet current and future threats." Raytheon is the prime contractor to the U.S. government for this Foreign Military Sales program, which is called SAM-X by South Korea. (Source: Examiner.) (SITE NOTE: After years of watching the ROK play watch the pea under the shell game by first ordering the PAC-3s but not funding it, then re-prioritizing it, then dropping the farce altogether and negotiating first with the Japanese for used PAC-2s and then with the Germans…and then renegotiating with the Germans over the price….and then setting up a new ARMY Air Defense Command with great fanfare…and then renegotiating with the Germans over price…etc. etc. etc. I JUST WANT TO SEE WHEN ARE THEY GOING FINALLY PUT THE FIRST PATRIOTS IN PLACE… Supposed to be 2007, then 2008, and then?????? After that comes the big question of do we need to send some of our PATRIOT batteries back to Fort Sill and let the ROK start handling some of its own missile defense — something the ROK does NOT want to do. Stay tuned kids — watch the pea…)

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New UAV Unveiled (Mar 2008) South Korea introduced on 20 Mar a new unmanned spy plane at a convention also attended by leading weapons manufacturers, including Israel's Rafael and Germany's Micro Drones. The convention, hosted by the country's defense procurement agency, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), is the first of six to be held this year to help introduce the latest defense items and technology to the country's military. (Source: Yonhap News.) (SITE NOTE: Hohum...this is the dog that still flies too low and doesn't have the spy camera capabilities of the US.)

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Soaring Oil Prices: Military to Cutback on Energy (Mar 2008) South Korea’s soldiers will be asked to make do with only one bath a week while its air force pilots will have to do more training on computers instead of real fighters as record oil prices force the country to slash fuel usage. The measures are among several arising from an emergency meeting last week at which senior army, navy and air force officials discussed how to reduce fuel bills, a military official said. The air force plans to cut annual flight hours for training from 150 to 135 and ask pilots to use computer simulators more instead of fighters. The navy is to ask ships to slow down on the way back from missions.

Old, fuel-inefficient ships will be dry-docked. Soldiers face tougher measures. The army plans to cut numbers of soldiers joining field drills and minimise oil-consuming heavy equipment for training. It has also asked soldiers to take a bath only once a week. (Source: Financial Times.) (SITE NOTE: Recruits only take a bath once a week anyway. However, wonder about the sanitation effects -- smelly soldiers in cramped quarters. As to the ROKAF cutting back on flying, this can impact training, but it is a standard procedure worldwide -- even for the US -- when money crunches hit. As for the oil-consuming heavy equipment, I wonder if they mean tank training -- which is essential.)

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Gov't to Take Charge of West Sea Battle Memorial (Mar 2008) The Ministry of Patriots & Veterans Affairs on 29 Mar decided that the annual memorial service for the victims of the 2002 West Sea Battle will be held by the government from this year. Until now the service had been the responsibility of the Navy's Second Fleet. Five South Korean Navy sailors were killed in the June 2002 sea skirmish with North Korean naval seamen in waters near the Northern Limit Line, the de facto border between the two Koreas in the West Sea.

In a policy briefing to President Lee Myung-bak on 29 Mar, the ministry said this year's memorial service scheduled for June 29 will be held "under the government's care and auspices." The ministry said that it will broadcast the service live, delivering a message that the country and the people will remember the victims forever. (SITE NOTE: After years of neglect and disrespect under the Roh adminstration, the ROK is finally doing the right thing -- but it is still too late to heal the insult. The Minister of Defense under Roh never attended much less Roh. This was an insult beyond all reason for any serviceman worldwide defending their country.)

The ministry also decided to increase the number of beneficiaries of its job finding program for discharged servicemen from 2,560 in 2008 to 4,500 by 2012. (Source: Chosun Ilbo.)

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April 2008

'34 Percent of Army Cadets Regard US as Main Enemy' (Apr 2008) A poll shows that 34 percent of first-year army cadets called the United States the main enemy of South Korea, a former superintendent of the Korea Military Academy (KMA) said. Kim Choong-bae, president of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, disclosed a past survey of 250 KMA entrants to single out "the country's main enemy'' while serving as the military academy's superintendent in 2004. Kim was quoted by a newspaper as saying, "While the majority -- or 34 percent -- picked the U.S., 33 percent said they regarded North Korea as the main enemy.''

He said the result was unbelievable, stressing the respondents were those who were supposed to be military officers. The KMA did not make the result public during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, which ended last February. Kim hinted that he had been forced not to notify the public of the result, expressing uneasiness about contents of some high and middle schools textbooks. Citing his meeting with the 250 cadet freshmen, the military expert argued that the hostile sentiment against the "ally" is due to "inappropriate'' education in schools.

In addition, according to a survey of a group of conscripted soldiers conducted by the Ministry of Defense, about 75 percent of them said they have anti-U.S. sentiment. Various polls on college students or elementary school students have shown that major enemies of South Korea include North Korea, Japan and the U.S. Meanwhile, North Korea had been found to label the U.S. and Japan as its main enemies. There has been no document or official commentaries from Pyongyang which describe South Korea as the main enemy of the North. North Korea had reportedly defined the U.S. a "mortal enemy'' and Japan a "longstanding enemy,'' some military officials said. (Source: Korea Times.) (SITE NOTE: This is some very scarey material when one thinks that the ROK is supposed to be the US ally in the defense of Korea. The impacts of ten years of progressive education are showing up -- and this will continue for untold years. What is even worse is that many of these young leaders will rise up the ranks and -- if their outlook doesn't change -- will create major problems in the future.)

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U.S. requests PRT, police team for Afghanistan (Apr 2008) The US asked South Korea to send a provincial reconstruction team (PRT) to Afghanistan and also to dispatch a small police force to train local police, multiple diplomatic sources here said on 10 Apr. South Korea has only a small group of civilians involved in PRT-related work remaining in the Central Asian country, and the U.S. request is for Seoul to dispatch a full-scale team of between 200 to 300 people, according to the sources. (Source: Yonhap News.) (SITE NOTE: Actually the US asked the ROK to send its military back to Afghanistan, but the ROK would only send 10 policemen who would hide in the Afghan Police Academy. Not a good response -- but better than nothing after the ROK pulled out with its leg between its legs after asceding to Taliban demands during the Aug 2007 kidnapping.)

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Seoul to Buy Precision Missiles Against NK Nuclear Threat (Apr 2008) South Korea will equip its F-15K fighters with state-of-the-art precision cruise missiles in a bid to strengthen the country's defense ``against North Korea's nuclear threat,'' an arms agency official said on 25 Apr. The missile is expected to be used in striking key nuclear facilities in North Korea should hostilities breakout, defense sources said. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced that it would purchase hundreds of ``JASSM-level'' cruise missiles by 2011.

JASSM is the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile developed in the United States. The missile has a range of 370 kilometers and its latest version, the JASSM-Extended Range, has a range of some 1,000 kilometers, according to missile experts. The weapon is used to attack both fixed and mobile targets at ranges beyond enemy air defenses. After launch, it flies at low-level, along a programmed route to the target, where a terminal guidance system ensures a direct hit. (Source: Korea Times.)

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Korea to Buy 21 More F-15Ks From Boeing (Apr 2008) South Korea's arms procurement agency on 25 Apr announced a contract to purchase 21 F-15K fighters from The Boeing Company of the US. Under the second-phase F-X deal, worth $2.3 billion, the American aircraft giant is to deliver the multi-role fighters to South Korea's Air Force between 2010 and 2012, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) said. South Korea had accepted Boeing's offer to provide one more aircraft to help the Korean Air Force replace an F-15K that crashed in 2006 as part of an offset deal, a DAPA spokesman said. (SITE NOTE: This is strange as the ROK first declined the offer, and then Boeing denied that it offered the "free" fighter in the first place after the crash of the ROK F-15K. Something doesn't smell right.)

``Once deployed, the aircraft are expected to make up for the diminishing capabilities of the Air Force's aging fighter jets while also reinforcing our strategic deterrence following the transfer of the wartime operational control of South Korean troops,'' the spokesman said. The F-X project aims to equip the Air Force with 120 advanced fighters by 2020 to replace its aging F-4 aircraft. In 2002, Boeing's F-15 Eagle was selected for the 40-plane, $4.2 billion first phase of the F-X fighter modernization program.

The F-15K can fly air-to-ground, air-to-air and air-to-sea missions day or night in any weather. It has a 23,000-pound payload and can fly at a maximum speed of Mach 2.3 with a combat radius of 1,800 kilometers. South Korea plans to open a bid for the next phase F-X projects aimed at purchasing stealth fighters in 2011.

Meanwhile, the DAPA selected Pratt & Whitney (P&W)'s F-100 engines to power the 21 F-15Ks under a $220 billion contract, beating out F110 engines made by General Electric (GE), which won the first-phase contract for 88 engines. P&W will deliver 46 engines to South Korea under a technology cooperation contract with Samsung Techwin, the spokesman said. It is rare that an air force selects different engines to power one type of fighter. (SITE NOTE: Technology transfer was the name of the game. The ROK builds the engines in the ROK and the failure of the first F-15K was attributed to the engine so Boeing was off the hook.) (Source: Korea Times.)

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May 2008

South Korea tackling missile gap (May 2008) This year marks the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the South Korean military. In this series, the military power of South Korea will be analyzed in the context of contemporary warfare, the nuclear aspirations of North Korea and a continuing arms race in Northeast Asia.

In modern warfare, missiles are strategic weaponry. Topped with chemical or nuclear warheads, missiles become the most deadly of all arms. Northeast Asia has the distinction of having the greatest concentration of missiles in the world. For South Korea, securing missile capabilities comparable to that of its neighbors — including North Korea — has been one of its major goals. Last month, United States Army Lieutenant General Walter Sharp, nominated as the next commander of U.S. forces in Korea, drew a stark picture. Before a U.S. Senate committee, Sharp said that North Korea is armed with 800 ballistic missiles which South Korea is not equipped to defend against.

"On the missile defense question," Sharp told the Senate, "North Korea continues to build missiles of increasing range, lethality and accuracy, bolstering its current stockpile of 800 missiles for its defense and external sales. South Korean military and civilian facilities are currently highly vulnerable to North Korean missile attacks."

Of the North's missiles, up to 600 are Scud variants, capable of reaching anywhere in South Korea. "North Korea is capable of bombarding Seoul and major cities as well as key military installations with Scud missiles armed with conventional warheads or chemical warheads," a South Korean military source said.

The worst nightmare for South Korea is the North's development of tactical nuclear weapons. The North conducted a nuclear test in October 2006 and has undertaken a flurry of missile firings. In July 2006, North Korea tested an intercontinental ballistic missile with the alleged capability of reaching U.S. territory, extending the nightmare to Washington.

Faced with a threat from the North, South Korea has been upgrading its own missile capabilities. Currently, the Korean-built Hyunmoo, which has an 180-kilometer range, and the U.S.-built ATACMS, are deployed. The South's defense researchers are developing Hyunmoo-3C, a cruise missile with a 1,500-kilometer range. The missiles can be fired from South Korean destroyers and submarines. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced on April 25 that it was purchasing an advanced missile system known as JASSM. JASSM, or the Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile system,is a conventionally armed, stealth cruise missile fired from jet aircraft. The basic JASSM system has a range of 380 kilometers, and an advanced variant up to 1,000 kilometers.

The South Korean military is also armed with SLAM-ER missiles, which have a 280-kilometer-range. "With SLAM-ER, it is impossible to attack the North's major missile bases located in its northern region," said a senior South Korean military official. "However, the JASSM will allow us to strike the missile bases near the Chinese border."

The source said with the South's current missile capabilities it is inevitable that the South will increase its number of jet fighters. In fact, in April the government said it will purchase 21 additional F-15K fighter jets. Military sources also said advanced missile systems will allow South Korea to maintain a deterrent against the North's missiles. But a deterrent does not equal a total defense.

The South Korean military does not have a system that can shoot down the North's missiles, though Seoul has said it will purchase Patriot systems from Germany starting this year. Military experts, however, are skeptical about the project, citing the low intercept rate of PAC-2. The PAC-2 system destroys its target by getting close and then exploding its warhead. A spray of shrapnel is meant to destroy an incoming missile. "U.S. intelligence authorities have said that during the first Gulf War, PAC-2 was fired at an Iraqi missile, but failed to destroy the warhead which managed to reach Israel," a South Korean official said.

On the Korean Peninsula, what matters most is accuracy, experts said. According to military sources, a Scud missile fired from the North's Singye base in North Hwanghae province will reach the capital region of Seoul within four minutes. Because Seoul is so close to the inter-Korean border, there is no time for multiple intercepts. The first one must work, they said. Military sources said an internal review is ongoing about the possibility of purchasing the more advanced PAC-3 missile defense system. The PAC-3 uses a completely new intercept method called "hit-to-kill," and its accuracy is far higher than the PAC-2 system, they said.

The sources also said they plan to procure SM-6 missiles which can be fired from a destroyer. The 400-kilometer-range missile will allow the South to intercept the North's missiles from the sea. (Source: Joongang Ilbo.)

Report: S. Korea to test stealth technology (May 2008) South Korea is preparing a test flight using stealth technology, according to a local media report. Yonhap News Agency quoted an unnamed official, typical for South Korean news outlets, saying that the Agency for Defense Development has equipped an F-4 fighter with radar-evading technology. The official said the agency tested a miniature plane with stealth technology successfully last year. The official would not reveal specifics. The Agency for Defense Development and other South Korean government agencies have been developing stealth fighter technology since 1999, according to Yonhap.

The Korean military has reportedly succeeded in developing the core technology for stealth fighter planes. Stealth technology is used to disguise aircraft or vessels from detection by radar, infrared or sound detectors. Stealth is considered a key field in future warfare, and world military powers such as the U.S., China, Japan and Russia have been focusing efforts on developing it. A Korean military source on Monday said that the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) and other local defense research institutes began developing stealth fighter technology and application systems in 1999. They developed radar absorbent material by the end of 2002, and are now aiming to finish developing all core technologies for functional stealth by mid-2010. Military authorities plan to finish tests of some of the radar absorbent material for application to weapons systems, including fighter jets, by the end of this year.

According to the military source, top-secret ground tests were done on F-4 fighter jets and miniature jet fighter models equipped with the radar absorbent material until 2007. The tests were satisfactory. It has not been revealed if the domestically developed material is ordinary paint or come in some other form.

F-117 fighter bombers, an early U.S. stealth aircraft, used thick stealth painting. The newer F-22 stealth fighters reportedly use a much thinner coating. The ADD and other local defense research institutes have also developed stealth configuration technology to design fighter jets and vessels that can effectively avoid radar detection. The military source explained that Korea is developing stealth technology as "U.S. F-22s are already deployed for war-related duties, and neighboring countries such as China, Russia and Japan are striving to secure the stealth technology and apply it to their weapons systems with the aim of securing command of the air in Northeast Asia." (Source: Chosun Ilbo.)

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ROK Defense Expenditures: 2008 (May 2008)

• 1. Executive-reconnaissance investment budget : 294billion [0.31 billion$]
• 2. Command control-communication development investment budget : 449billion [0.47billion$]
• 3. Army Moving combat power investment budget : 1.15 trillion [1.2billion$]
• 4. Warship-submarine development investment budget : 1.69trillion [1.8billion$]
• 5. Aircraft development investment budget : 1.94trillion [2 billion$]
• 6. Fire force-ammunition development investment : 943 billion [1 billion$]
• 7. Special guide weaponeering investment budget : 1.39trillion [1.5 billion$]
• 8. Military defense research and development investment budget : 1.68 trillion [1.8 billion$]
• 9. Skill plan, military quality administration investment : 56 billion [60million$]
• 10. Military defense industry total support budget : 100 billion [105million$]

(Source: Asia Finest.com

(SITE NOTE: South Korea will launch satellite fitted with synthetic aperture radar in 2010 and one with electro-optical camera in 2011. Although they will be launched as scientific satellites, the dual use in military is undeniable. When this satellites are launched, it will significantly boost intelligent gathering capability of South Korea independent of US. EO satellite will have clarity up to 60 to 80 cm.

Jane's Defense Daily said that South Korea is developing EMP bomb.

Several missile projects are underway and they are within several months of deploying to sea a 600-km range anti-ship/land attack cruise missile (SM-700K Sea Star), and have a follow-on 1,000-km land attack cruise missile (LACM) version. The latter uses TERCOM guidance and is expected to be fitted onboard KDX-III DDGs in coming year and eventually be back-fitted to KDX-II class ASW DDs at some later point, augmenting and eventually replacing Harpoon. During the last Marine Week exhibition (last Oct.), LG Innotek was forced to remove the model of the missile displayed in previous mairtime exhibitions over the last couple years (though I have several photos of its DDG test launches).

There are also several torpedo developments, including Blue Shark ASW weapon system based on ASROC, Blue Shark 32.4cm ASW (Mk.46 Mod5 variant) and heavyweight, wire-guided White Shark torpedo. They also have developed their own twin 40-mm DP gun system - now mounted onboard the PGG Yoon Young-ha, first of the PKK-A series high-speed PGG ships. The mount is based on a Italian Darbo twin 40-mm.

This is just a snap shot of several naval related, R&D efforts and then there are several aviation and air- launched weapons development effort, plus they are doing quite well in niche market areas of protective suites and clothing, shoes, high-speed RHIBs (several companies are building and one is on test in China for possible sale to Chinese port security authority's, etc)

One of the more controversial projects is the AT-50 attack fighter which is based on a supersonic jet trainer the AT-50. It is a little less capable than the F-16s but more expensive. The debate is complicated but an over-simplified version is that the proponents think the project is worthy technology investment and opponents think Korea can get much better bang for the buck through other means. There are many who question the need for a low end aircraft in the first place. It has had some setbacks of late, because the US will not sell or license the radar ROKs wanted, a decision made last summer. This places in jeopardy the very basis of making it a highly capable air attack platform with PGMs and other weapons, intended to replace the F-4D and F-5E Tiger II in service with ROKAF. There is also the KFX next generation fighter project for 2020 which gets mixed in this debate as well.

Korea has had some successful weapon development projects. Its K-9 self propelled guns are considered top of the line.

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South Korea's tanks blow competition away (May 2008) This year marks the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the South Korean military. South Korea, which relied on U.S. military assistance during the Korean War, has evolved into a military power with 600,000 troops and a 26 trillion won ($24.9 billion) annual defense budget. In this series, the military power of South Korea will be analyzed in the context of contemporary warfare, the nuclear aspirations of North Korea and a continuing arms race in Northeast Asia.


K2 vs. Chonmaho (May 2008) (Joongang Ilbo)

The Korean military for the past several years has been working hard to upgrade its weapons in case there's a showdown on the Korean Peninsula. At center stage is the South's new battle tank, the K2. The K2 is equipped with a wide variety of cutting-edge technologies capable of defeating its North Korean counterpart, the Chonmaho, which means flying horse tiger in Korean.

First, the K2's armor-piercing sabot rounds have a range of three kilometers (1.9 miles) with 50 percent accuracy. The accuracy jumps to 95 percent for targets within two kilometers. This applies to both stationary and moving targets. Next, the K2's 120 mm-caliber barrel is 6.6 meters long, about two meters longer than typical for major tanks. The extra heft assures that the rounds are powerful enough to pierce the Chonmaho's armor plates. Also, the K2's rounds have wings to help them fly faster and more independently of winds, increasing precision. And tungsten metal bars packed in the rounds are capable of creating holes bigger than a pencil in the Chonmaho's armor plate. North Korea does not have rounds nearly as powerful.

North Korea's Chonmaho, an upgraded version of the Russian T-62 tank, sees its accuracy plunge once a target is more than a kilometer away. At two kilometers, the hit rate is nearly zero. Even at close range, the Chonmaho's hit rate for moving objects is less than 10 percent. If that wasn't enough of a problem, Chonmaho rounds are incapable of piercing the special armor plate on the K2, which consists of multiple layers of metals and ceramics.

The K2 can hold its own even against other more sophisticated tanks, the government maintains. "The K2's features are far better than others, including the Pokpungho [windstorm], now under development in North Korea under the code name M-2002, China's Type 99 and Russia's T-90," said one official at South Korea's Agency for Defense Development. "The K2 will remain the world's top-class battle tank for quite a while," he said.

The Korean Army is expected to place the K2, which was developed last year, at major military installations beginning in 2011. But K2 is hardly the only new showcase in the South Korean military.

The K9 155 millimeter-caliber self-propelled artillery gun, whose production began in 1999, has a shooting range of up to 40 kilometers and the gun is coupled with great mobility. Self-propelled artillery is usually used for long-range indirect bombardment in support of ground troops. The first and foremost target of the K9s is the howitzers of the enemy. North Korea's counterpart is a self-propelled Russian-made 170 millimeter-caliber gun called the Koksanpo.

North Korea is known to have hidden hundreds of Koksanpo units inside caves along the inter-Korean border. In a battle between a K9 and the Koksanpo, which one would prevail? South Korean officials believe the K9 has the advantage. It can fire two shells per minute, while the Koksanpo can only fire one or two every five minutes. The K9 also has better accuracy than the Koksanpo. But one advantage goes to the Koksanpo. Its range is about 20 kilometers farther than the K9. However, at that range, it can hit only random targets. The K9 counters the Koksanpo's better range with quick mobility. It is literally a moving target.

If the North's Koksanpo attacks the South, the South Korean Army's AN/TPQ-37 radar will immediately locate it and send coordinates back to headquarters. Soon the K9 will know where to aim.

North Korea also bests the South in raw numbers. The North has 50 percent more tanks than the South and over twice as much artillery. And the North has 1 million infantrymen, far more than the 500,000 troops in South Korea. This means that despite the technological advantages held by the South, the North remains a formidable foe.

As a part of its effort to close the numbers gap, the South Korean military has been working hard to upgrade weapons and equipment for each individual soldier. Today, each soldier is issued some 60 kinds of weapons, clothes and other items, worth about 2.5 million won ($2,398) in total. Each soldier receives a 980,000 won rifle, a 14,750 won uniform, a 190,000 won bulletproof helmet and 24,000 won hand grenades. Other items include underwear, an eating bowl, a wireless radio and night vision scopes. The South Korean military says this equipment is superior to that of a typical North Korean soldier.

North Korean infantrymen receive an outdated AK rifle, and helmets are considered a luxury item only given to top units. Portable night vision scopes are also considered a prohibitive luxury, according to experts. The South Korean Army has also set up a military training center with cutting-edge technology in Hongcheon, Gangwon, that allows soldiers to stage simulated battles, something unheard of in the North. The North's chronic food shortage also damages its military morale, many experts said.

"We don't have any solid statistics, but if you take a look at the North Korean servicemen, most are shorter than South Korean servicemen by 10 centimeters [3.9 inches] or more," said a South Korean soldier who used to work at the inter-Korean border. (Source: Joongang Ilbo.)

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In spy versus spy, Seoul holds high-tech edge -- Soon South Korea will launch two satellites that can see in the dark (May 2008) Kim Tae-young, the chairman of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, monitors North Korea's military position daily. His checklist includes the position of the North's submarines, tanks, infantry, ballistic missiles, aircraft and artillery. And it's easy to see why. In case the North was preparing an attack, South Korea would need to rapidly plant sea mines to prevent North Korean submarines from offloading commandos in the South. Also, before any sneak attack, North Korea would need to move mechanized units toward the Demilitarized Zone. Detecting such movements is vital for South Korea's defense. Should Kim detect such actions, he would first notify General Burwell Bell, the U.S. military commander in the South, and then prepare for battle.

To detect an intended surprise attack, Kim needs cutting-edge reconnaissance and intelligence. That's where its Baekdu and Geumgang reconnaissance planes help out by tapping into North Korean communications. Also chipping in are United States spy planes and satellites, such as the U-2 and KH-11. Added to the mix are unmanned surveillance aircraft such as the Global Hawk. Added together, intelligence can prepare the South's military forces to counter any hostile enemy action.

But in a rapidly changing world, a country cannot rest on past technology. And the South isn't. South Korea's military capability is expected to see a dramatic improvement once it launches its Arirang 5 satellite in 2010 and the Arirang 3 satellite in 2011. These satellites are armed with synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) that allows them to see what's happening below, even at night or on a cloudy day, making a surprise attack difficult. Also, they can differentiate ground objects, telling trees from tanks. That technology has been tested. It works. During the Iraq War, the U.S. used SAR to tell the difference between real jet fighters on Iraq's runways and dummy aircraft made of wood. America was able to destroy real warplanes while not wasting bombs on those that were fake.

Also, through its electro-optical telescopes, the Arirang satellite 3 can detect objects as small as 60 to 80 centimeters. That means even small movements of North Korean battle tanks, trucks and field artillery will be detected. North Korea has no such high-tech capability. It can detect South Korean military movement only through spies or commando units. Such a unit infiltrated into Gangneung, Gangwon Province in 1996. Lack of timely intelligence means the North would need several days to prepare a response to offensive military movements by the South. On its part, the South would only need hours.

Though first rate, even South Korea's two satellites are not enough to detect every movement by the North. Simply, they are not positioned over the country all the time. Instead, they circle the globe. Even the United States had to rent several commercial satellites to blanket Iraq during its 2003 invasion. So as backup, Korea will use U.S. military support to keep track of the movement of the North's military headquarters, missile stations and mechanized units, especially those located more than 100 kilometers away from the DMZ.

Finally, the South Korean military is strengthening its own capability by upgrading its so-called C4I, or command control communication computer and intelligence system that can broadcast sound, data and live images to military commanders. (Source: Joongang Ilbo.)

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Suicide tops cause of death in military (May 2008) Private First Class Kim Dong-min was sentenced to death by a military court earlier this month. His case was clear-cut. In 2005, he went on a shooting spree and killed eight fellow soldiers. It was a classic case of someone who failed to adjust to military life and then just snapped. Fatal shootings in South Korea are rare, as it is illegal to own a gun except for small caliber guns for hunting. Whether Kim will be executed remains to be seen, as the country has moved slowly away from the death penalty. The last execution took place in 1997. Kim s victims were just statistics added to the total number of deaths in the military here.

Every year the South Korean military loses the equivalent of an entire company of soldiers. The news is usually released quietly. The death toll includes accidents or cases of apparent suicide which the military categorizes as deaths that occur due to lack of military discipline. The bulk of this category comprises suicides. The rest are accidents involving weapons or acts of violence. Last year, the military lost 121 men in noncombat-related activities. Considering that in 1993, 343 military personnel died, the military appears to be making an effort to address the problem.

Overall, better education, supervision and an improved command have resulted in fewer accidents and incidents, says Lieutenant Colonel Chun Byeong-gyu of the Defense Ministry. Nevertheless, although the number of suicides has dropped, an average of 73 soldiers killed themselves each year in the past decade, and 80 committed suicide last year, according to the Defense Ministry. But the military doesn t think these deaths were a direct consequence of military service. In an analysis of deaths in the military, an internal report concluded that "the number of suicides in the military is relatively lower among civilian men in their 20s." The report concluded that the overall death toll in the military will decrease but the number of suicides in civilian society could become an obstacle in reducing such numbers. It is hard to reverse a natural trend occurring in society, the report says.

Civic groups and parents who have lost sons in the military are suspicious of the military's explanations for the deaths. "Whether it's a suicide or an accident, the closed nature of the military often makes any explanation a subject for scrutiny," says Kim Deok-jin, an official of the Catholic Church here. Kim represents parents who have lost sons in the service. "The military police and the courts are internal organs of the military and they are regarded as official mouthpieces of the military rather than neutral organizations."

The Presidential Commission on Suspicious Deaths in the Military recently announced that some past cases stamped by the military as simple accidents were murders or had other causes of death. This news has fueled parents' suspicions. The committee said that investigations revealed five cases were covered up by the military. Parents such as Ju Jong-woo now feel they have legitimate reasons to doubt explanations from the military, and they vow to maintain pressure on the military until they know the truth. "I want to know what really happened to my son," says Ju, who was told by the military that his son killed himself in 2003. Ju has filed a petition with the presidential commission, arguing that his son had no reason to take his own life.

After decades of military rule that started in the 1960s with Park Chung Hee and continued with the regimes of Chun Doo Hwan and Roh Tae-woo, both former generals, South Korea's first democratic government came to power only in 1993 with the election of former president Kim Young-sam. It was only in January 2006 that the Presidential Commission on Suspicious Deaths in the Military was launched. The ad hoc committee is scheduled to end its activities by the end of the year, but it has received more than 600 petitions to look into past closed cases. It has closed only 150, including rejections. Park Jong-deok, a senior official of the committee, says the committee can close another 150 cases by year's end, leaving the rest unresolved. The length of investigations depends on the case, but officials say they need up to a year to investigate each case. Twenty percent of the 105 investigators and support staff at the committee has a military background. The drawback is that only cases until December 2005 are under review. Organizations such as the National Human Rights Commission of Korea will handle the other cases that occurred after 2005, something experts say could be a nightmare for parents and relatives trying to find out what happened to their sons. "Matters involving the military need to be investigated by experts who know how to find a road when they face military red tape," Park warns. "Anybody else could be in for some unproductive digging." The committee will have to ask the National Assembly for an extension. Nevertheless, the Lee Myung-bak administration said earlier that it would close all ad hoc committees established during the Roh Moo-hyun administration as soon as possible, making the chance of an extension slim.

The most pressing issue, Park says, is to change the current framework that makes investigators and the prosecution part of the military and separate from similar civilian bodies. "We have to ensure the independence of military police investigations from the chain of command," says Park. "Say you have a division commander who is looking to add another star but just saw one of his men get killed in a beating by others under his command. A possible promotion can be negatively affected and the temptation is there to influence the outcome of an investigation."

The official expressed frustration that a recent bill to make changes to the current military court and military laws didn't get passed beyond the Defense Committee of the National Assembly, as lawmakers cited other more pressing issues to handle. He adds that military investigations nowadays tend to be quicker in determining the cause of death compared to the past, an improvement he cites, but they often fail to dig deeper. "There could be various reasons for a suicide but the military often cites individual problems," says the official. Summing up its findings so far, the committee said the military tends to brand suicides as failures of adjustment on the part of the individual soldier in question, or external factors such as a girlfriend's change of heart.

Publicly, the official line is that hazing and beatings have almost disappeared in the military except for a few isolated cases. Nevertheless, finding someone saying otherwise is not that hard. "We had beatings," is the short answer given by Cho Seung-hyeon, who was discharged in April after serving as a drill instructor at the Army's main boot camp in the Chungcheong provinces. During his two years of service, his unit had two suicides by soldiers. "Beatings have decreased overall, that's for sure, but can you say they do not exist? Depending on the type of unit, there are varying levels of beatings going on, but the impression we get is that riot police units nowadays practice them more," says Park Jong-deok. Experts say that more than half the suicides occur at the private first class and second class level, the ranks most vulnerable to hazing by senior ranks. While civic groups blame the military and the government for failing to address an issue that has persisted for decades, incidents such as Private Kim's killing spree that caused public humiliation for the military have prompted the military to improve daily living conditions for the soldiers.

Kicking off a broad campaign the year after the Kim incident, the military has engaged in various projects that are expected to be finished by 2020. Old bathrooms and toilets have been renovated and commanders are routinely educated about how to foster better relations with their soldiers. In addition, psychiatrists meet with recruits at the initial medical checkup for the first time last year. Before that, draftees' mental health was judged solely on written tests.

The government also introduced a law about the same time that forbids beatings and verbal abuse such as swearing. Each military unit is now required to have a professional counselor at hand in order to attend to difficulties and soldiers' complaints. Some housing units have been renovated. They now feature beds at the squad level. In the past, whole squads were often cramped into a single room where soldiers slept on raised floors, cheek to cheek. In addition, a measure to reduce the total length of service to 18 months by 2014 is already taking effect. Nevertheless, military officers admit it will take a long time for hazing practices and the hush-hush attitude in the military to disappear. "There are times when you suspect something went on, but unless someone comes forward, it's hard to do anything," says an Army captain speaking on condition of anonymity. "This is the military. Closing ranks is practiced from the bottom to the top."

Now the presidential committee has asked the Defense Minister to rethink the death of a soldier who committed suicide in March 2007. Investigators believe the suicide was caused partly by constant harassment and physical assault. If the military takes up the recommendation, the soldier in question can be buried at the National Cemetery. What one college student had to say about the whole issue probably underlines the attitude of the men who have to leave the comforts of home and live a spartan life. Says Choi Hyeok-jae, 20, a college sophomore in Seoul, "There is this saying that if you die in the military it's worth less than a dog's death." (Source: Joongang Ilbo, Brian Lee.)

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Military Seeks to Lower Civilian Participation (May 2008) The Defense Ministry is set to overhaul its plan to increase the number of civilians in the military, which was initiated as part of the Roh Moo-hyun administration’s effort to create a more efficient military. According to the ministry on 21 May, Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee recently instructed all ministry departments to separate jobs that require military expertise. (SITE NOTE: This is part of LMBs plan to reduce public officials by one-third. However, we also see it as a way of rooting out progressives from the administration -- under the last in, first out rule. Roh inflated the administration during his term in office and stacked it with progressives.)

In response, each department has been reporting positions that they believe require hands-on military expertise, including some of the department and section chiefs appointed during the Roh administration. The move came after the mounting criticism from military officers who claim that an increasing number of servicemen on active duty have been excluded from the process of establishing national defense policies. (SITE NOTE: The reorganization had an underlying motive to implement the Roh administration push to place "progressive" civilians in key positions to control of the military. At the time, we commented that this was a move by the Roh administration to continue to neuter the military by bringing the control of administrators whose jobs were beholding to the Roh administration -- not to the Defense ministry. In the intervening two years, the amount of civilians moved into slots has grown and grown. The Roh administration pointed to the US Defense Department as a civilian entity as an example of its moves -- however, the problem is that the Roh administration used the government to control employment. In our opinion, it was Roh's subtle way of neutering the Ministry of Defense in conjunction with its non-funding of military upgrade programs and REDUCING military spending to under 2.8 percent of GDP.)

More than 70 percent of the military posts have gradually been filled up with civilians in accordance to the previous administration’s military reform plan. Of the 16 department heads at the Defense Ministry, only five are currently military officers. The rest are civilians. Likewise, of the 69 section chief positions, 20 are colonels, while the other 49 are government officials.

“Ignoring the extraordinary nature of military positions, an excessive portion of (military) positions have been taken by civilians. This also has drastically limited the chance for military officials with experience in combat units to raise their voice in the establishment of defense policies,” said a military official. Many military insiders believe that the current level of civilians in the military will be lowered once the ministry finishes reviewing the plan.

Another official said that Minister Lee’s inaugural pledge to transform the manpower-based military into a “specialized one” has encountered criticisms. “Some have criticized Lee, saying replacing military officials with public servants goes against creating a specialized military,” said the official.

Some experts believe that the recent measure heralds an extensive revision of the Defense Reform 2020 program, established by the Roh administration. Though the Defense Ministry plans to complete the program by 2020, some of the projects to strengthen its warfare capacity have been delayed due to a budget shortfall of over 1.5 trillion won between 2006 and 2008. A military source said that the military is carefully reviewing all aspects of the Defense Reform 2020 program, including personnel matters and unit structure reforms. “We cannot rule out the possibility that the reform plan will be delayed or significantly modified unless overall circumstances improve, including the budget,” the source said. (SITE NOTE: The problem the MND faced was that manpower for the military was dropping because of the falling birthrates. South Korea maintains a 680,000-strong military under a compulsory conscription system. All able-bodied men aged 20 and over are required to serve in the military for 24-28 months. However, at the same time, the Ministry of Defense in July 2005 announced plans to reduce its 680,000-member military by one fourth by 2020 and streamlining its combat organizations in an effort to carry out comprehensive reform of its armed forces. The move was due to demographics where falling number of military age conscriptees was rapidly going to affect the military. This was used as the flimsy excuse for filling slots of soldiers with civilians -- but this didn't fly as we were talking of managerial positions, not foot soldiers. The move was to move officers out of the jobs and fill them with civilians. Another line of reasoning was that it was to make it more like the US Defense Department. However, that was like making a apples and oranges comparison. The US operates -- and has operated under a different principle of civilian control of the military since its inception. The ROK on the other hand was founded on the principle of the military controlling the military -- and whenever a new president comes to power, he replaces all the generals at the top to make them beholding to him. In the past, when the support of the President failed (or a vacuum appeared), the military was swift to take control of the government. As such, the Defense Department and Ministry of Defense analogy didn't fly.) (Source: Donga Ilbo.)

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South Korea Bids to Buy Second-Hand US Attack Choppers (May 2008) South Korea has expressed interest in purchasing renovated U.S. Apache attack helicopters, which will be available to international customers in the near future, a U.S. government official said on 27 May. Army Col. Kevin W. Madden, chief of the Joint U.S. Military Affairs Group-Korea (JUSMAG-K), said, the U.S. government will soon make available to foreign customers about 260 Block I Apache helicopters built by Boeing. The JUSMAG-K is attached to the U.S. Embassy in Seoul with missions to support affairs related to the Korea-U.S. alliance. ``I have heard many countries have expressed interest,'' Madden told The Korea Times. ``I have been briefed that there will be options for international customers to refurbish or completely rebuild the helicopters in the customer's preferred configuration all the way up to Block III Longbow models.'' ``In that case, they will not be `used' at all but will represent, for practical purposes, completely new helicopters. I'm sure prices will depend on the customer's desires,'' he added.

His remarks were contradictory to those by the spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense earlier in the day. Defense Ministry spokesman Won Tae-je said the U.S. government had first proposed the idea to the Korean government through the JUSMAG-K. He confirmed a local report that Seoul is considering buying 36 ``second-hand'' Apaches with a total price tag of 1 trillion won ($960 million) to replace the Army's aging Cobra attack choppers. The Apache fleet would be fully operational with the Army by 2012, according to the report. ``The offer was only reviews at the working level but we're reviewing it very positively,'' Won told reporters. Won, however, denied part of the report that the government would drop a plan to build more than 270 semi-indigenous attack helicopters under the Korea Attack Helicopter (KAH) program. ``The defense budget for research expenses on the KAH program was included in the 2009-2013 arms procurement plan,'' said the spokesman. ``The program to develop attack helicopters using the country's own technology will go forward as scheduled.'' Many defense experts say purchasing aircraft from foreign manufacturers would be more economically sound than developing its own, which is expected cost up to 10 trillion won.

The AH-64 Apache Longbow is an all-weather, day-night military attack helicopter and is the U.S. Army's principle attack helicopter. Its armament include a 30mm M230 Chain Gun, AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and Hydra 70 laser-guided rockets. The U.S. Forces Korea maintains two Apache battalions here to help prevent North Korean special forces from infiltrating the South by sea. Recent reports said the United States is considering pulling one battalion from the Korean Peninsula to deploy it to Afghanistan on anti-terror missions.

Madden stressed, ``The U.S. government has not proposed anything to the Korean government and has not been advised that Seoul will purchase these helicopters.'' ``As far as I know, the ROK Army is still looking at future concepts and configurations for its helicopter fleet and has made no final determinations and the KAH program is still viable,'' he said. ``Over the past 5-8 years, the ROKG has made inquiries and requested information not only on the Apache but also the Super Cobra as well as other countries' helicopters.'' (Source: Korea Times.)

Rebuilt AH-64 Cost Less Upfront, but more in long run (Jun 2008) South Korea is buying 36 recently retired U.S. AH-64D Apache helicopter gunships. With refurbishment, each would cost $27 million. That’s about half what brand new, similarly equipped Apaches would cost. South Korea will be replacing elderly AH-1 gunships. The AH-64Ds would be delivered over the next four years.

South Korea wanted to develop its own helicopter gunship design, but that would have been much more costly, and depended on export sales to break even. The locally designed gunships would end up costing the South Korea Army about three times what they are paying for the American refurbed choppers. Since aircraft are constantly rebuilt over their service lives, there’s no difference in performance between new AH-64Ds, and the refurbs. The one difference would be higher maintenance cost for the refurbs down the line, because some of the components already had some wear on them when they entered South Korean service.

Many South Korean politicians and industry leaders want to go ahead with developing the Korea Attack Helicopter (KAH) anyway, and get the AH-64Ds mainly to upgrade the helicopter gunship capability. The first KAH would not be ready for service for another ten years (Source: Strategy Page.)

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U.S. Urges S.Korea to Join PSI (May 2008) The U.S. has officially asked South Korea to join the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI), a loose coalition of countries committed to stopping the spread of so-called weapons of mass destruction (WMD). At a media roundtable held at the National Press Building in Washington on Tuesday on the fifth anniversary of the launching of the PSI, John Rood, acting U.S. undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, said, "We would certainly encourage them (South Korea) to join, and we've engaged in a number of discussions with them."

He continued, "The present government in Seoul is, I think, reviewing the issue. We will await the outcome of that." Rood noted that China has had "some concerns" about PSI activities, and the issue will be on the table at U.S.-China strategic security talks to be held in Beijing next week. South Korea has so far been reluctant to fully participate in the PSI due to opposition from North Korea and China, but the Lee Myung-bak administration has been considering stepping up participation since its inauguration.

North Korea, which has been designated a proliferator of WMD by the U.S., has been especially hostile to South Korea's participation in the PSI, asserting that implementation of some sanctions would be considered an "act of war." (Source: Chosun Ilbo.)

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June 2008

Korea to Take Over 10th, Last Security Mission From US (Jun 2008) The Air Force will take the lead in joint search-and-rescue operations with the U.S. Air Force on the Korean Peninsula beginning December as part of the agreed transfer of 10 major security operations from U.S. Forces in Korea (USFK) to South Korea. The day-and-night search-and-rescue mission is the last of the 10 security missions, including the patrol of the Joint Security Area in the Demilitarized Zone and counter-fire mission against North Korea's long-range artillery, to be transferred under the 2003 deal, the Air Force said in a news release.

The Korean Air Force's 6th Search-and-Rescue Group and the 33rd Rescue Squadron of the U.S. Air Force will conduct their last training exercise from Tuesday through Thursday (18-20 Jun) in waters off the country's western coast before the mission transfer, an Air Force spokesman said. During the exercise, South Korean airmen will play a leading role in rescuing an imaginary American pilot forced to eject from his aircraft, with the support from the U.S. rescue squadron, he said. ``This exercise aims to hone the joint search-and-rescue operational skills of the two Air Forces under real combat-like conditions,'' the spokesman said. ``The two sides will thoroughly review their tactics in identifying and rescuing missing personnel from the sea.'' A Korean Air Force HH-60P rescue helicopter and a U.S. Air Force HH-60G helicopter will be mobilized to rescue the pilot, he added.

The transfer of the USFK's key security missions was agreed upon as part of efforts to help South Korea assume more responsibility for its national defense, particularly the defense of border areas. The move was also in line with the reduction of U.S. troops under a 2004 deal, which called for cutting the number of U.S. forces from 37,000 to 25,000 in phases by the end of this year. President Lee Myung-bak and U.S. President George W. Bush, however, agreed to pause the troop reduction and maintain about 28,000 troops on the peninsula during their Camp David summit in April. Under a wartime command transfer deal reached last year, the Korean military is to take the lead in combat operations on the peninsula with the U.S. military shifting to a naval- and air-centric supporting role. (Source: Korea Times.) (SITE NOTE: The ROK previously did not have all-weather rescue capability after the USAF HH-60G Pave Hawk assigned to Detachment 1, 33rd Rescue Squadron at Osan AB left in 2006. With it was lost the capability of penetrating fog. The ROKAF HH-60G Pave Hawk is the new addition picks up this slack. However, we are wondering where this ROKAF HH-60G Pave Hawk came from as the last we heard all the ROKAF had was HH/VH-60P with the 6th SAR (ROKAF) -- the standard Blackhawk models with external fuel tanks.)

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S. Korean Navy to Buy 4 Mine Sweeper Choppers by 2012 (Jun 2008) The Navy plans to purchase at least eight mine sweeper helicopters from foreign nations in an effort to enhance maritime security against potential threats posed by North Korea's sea mines during wartime, a military source said on 17 Jun. The Navy requested the Joint Chiefs of Staff last year review the acquisition of four multi-mission helicopters equipped with airborne mine countermeasures (AMCM) suite by 2012 in the first stage, the source said. The program has been included in the Ministry of National Defense's mid-term arms procurement plan between 2009 and 2013, which is awaiting approval from Cheong Wa Dae, he said. The Navy wants to deploy four more AMCM helicopters with its forces by 2015, said the source.

Viable candidates for the AMCM helicopter acquisition project are the MH-60S Knighthawk built by U.S. helicopter manufacturer Sikorsky and the EH-101 manufactured by AgustaWestland, a Britain-Italy joint venture company, the source said. Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jung Ok-keun may review the two candidates during his possible visit to the United Kingdom next month, where the AMCM helicopters will be displayed during the Farnborough International Airshow July 14-20, another military source said. A Navy official said, however, Jung's visit to the United Kingdom has not been fixed and would not be directly related to the AMCM program, though the Navy chief is considering visiting the European nation at the request of his British counterpart.

``AMCM helicopters are crucial in helping our ships maneuver in coastal areas as well as defending the sea lanes both during peacetime and wartime,'' the official said on condition of anonymity. ``In particular, the roles of the sea-mine sweeper helicopters will be more important in the event of war, given enemy's sea mines could cause significant operational delay by preventing our and allied forces, and their equipment from accessing shores.''

Compared to minesweeper ships, AMCM helicopters are more useful in defending larger areas in a shorter period of time and are also used in laying out sea mines in enemy's littoral areas to hamper enemy ships or lock them into a harbor, the official said. The South Korean Navy currently operates only minesweeper ships. The AMCM helicopters will also used in infiltrating South Korean Navy's special forces units into enemy territory in case of an emergency, he noted, adding the aircraft will be operated for transport and search-and-rescue missions. Mines, which are cheap to make and easy to deploy, are considered the most effective weapons available to a littoral adversary seeking to prevent enemy forces accessing shore line territories and projecting power ashore. North Korea, which has more than 70 submarines, is expected to focus on mine warfare in case of war to deter reinforcements and overseas logistics support for South Korean forces from coming in, defense experts say.

MH-60S' organic airborne mine countermeasures systems include Raytheon's Airborne Mine Neutralization System (AMNS), AN/AQS-20A underwater towed sonar with mine identification system, and Northrop Grumman's Rapid Airborne Mine Clearance System (RAMICS), a none-towed mine neutralization system aimed at clearing near-surface and surface-moored mines using a laser target sensor and a 30mm mk44 gun.

The AMNS is an expendable, remotely operated mine destruction device that provides identification and neutralization of bottom and moored mines. Also included in the systems are Northrop Grumman's Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) and EDO Corporation's Organic Airborne and Surface Influence Sweep (OASIS). The hovering helicopter deploys an expendable, self-propelled neutralizer steered to the suspected mine by the operator. Sonar and video displays on the airborne console help identify a potential mine threat. Confirmed mines are destroyed or detonated by high-velocity rounds with a reactive charge.

The EH101 is a utility medium-lift helicopter operational with the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. Naval versions of the EH-101 can be armed with two anti-ship missiles, or up to four torpedoes and depth charges. It is equipped with infrared jammers, missile approach warning, chaff and flare dispensers, and laser detection and warning systems. In September 2003, Japan ordered 14 EH-101s for AMCM missions and Antarctic survey transport with deliveries beginning in 2006. (Source: Korea Times.)

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S. Korea pushes for Russian helicopter purchase (Jun 2008) The South Korean military is pushing for its plan to buy 32 Kamov (KA-32) helicopters from Russia at a date earlier than anticipated to support landing and infiltration operations for marines ahead of the planned takeover of wartime operational control from the United States.

A military source said on June 16, “To cope with the retake of wartime operational control, the military recently allocated 930 billion won (US$894 million) to buy 32 helicopters for landing operations for the Marine Corps, by changing the project to an urgent demand from a long-term one.” (SITE NOTE: It was found that the ROK had no capability to launch a counter strike into the North without the aid of US landing ships.)

The budget was included in a mid-term defense plan set between 2009 and 2013. If the Defense Acquisition Program Administration announces the results of its feasibility study, the project to buy helicopters for the marines would start from 2013 and be completed by 2019, as opposed to the previous deadline of late 2020.

The aircrafts are expected to be deployed in Dokdo-class amphibious assault ships (Landing Platform Helicopter) or landing ships (Landing Ship Tank). In case of emergency, the helicopters are optimized to fly the marines through the sky to infiltrate enemy territory, allowing the Marine Corps to conduct landing operations both ashore and in mid-air. At present, the Marine Corps has no aircraft battalion and could exercise air-infiltration operations with the help of Army helicopters, so the project has been cited as the top priority for the Marine Corps.

Regarding the helicopter models to be used in the project, the Navy and the Joint Chiefs of Staff are moving to buy 32 Kamov KA-32 helicopters from Russia via a loan repayment program known as The Third Brown Bear Business. Since April, the Joint Chiefs of Staff have been in negotiations with Russian after having placed the KA-32 model on top of its wish list of things to bring from Russia as part of the repayment program.

However, some military and defense industry officials oppose the deployment of Russian helicopters, saying it could pose a negative impact to another military plan to develop its own attack helicopters. They also say that it will cost a great deal to remodel the aircrafts because the KA-32 helicopters were developed to meet civilian aviation needs. An official at a defense technology company said, “In 2012, South Korea will start mass production of the Korean-style utility helicopter. If foreign helicopters were deployed, it would cost some 1 trillion won in lost sales.” In order to develop devices that are protected against salt-induced erosion, and remodel them into foldup helicopters that can be carried by the Dokdo-class assault ships, a significant amount of time and money would be needed.

The Korea Forest Service and an Air Force battalion, both of which have already used the KA-32 choppers, were believed to have conveyed the opinion that the “KA-32 costs two or three times more in terms of maintenance than helicopters from Western countries because of its short replacement cycle for parts and high fuel consumption level.” Another worrisome issue is that it may be difficult to identify an enemy combatant during joint operations between South Korean and U.S. forces because North Korea also owns the Russian helicopters. In response, a military official said, “The introduction of the KA-32 is an issue under consultation with Russia. It has not been given final confirmation.” (Source: Hankyoreh.)

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S. Korea emerges as 5th biggest market for U.S. defense goods (Jun 2008) South Korea bought US$1.5 billion worth of defense goods, including equipment used to detect nuclear explosions, on a direct commercial basis from the United States in the fiscal year ending September 2007, a U.S. government report has said. . The amount was the fifth highest after Britain, Japan, Iraq and Canada, said the report released recently by the U.S. Department of State. (Source: Yonhap News.)

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July 2008

ROK Considering Buying X-band Radar (Jul 2008) The government is reportedly considering purchasing X-band radar with a range of 1800 kilometers for ballistic missiles made in the United States, raising questions about whether the government is thinking about joining the U.S. missile defense system targeting China and Russia. X-band radar is a device that helps to identify and track missiles and is an essential component of the U.S. missile defense system.

On July 7, a military source said that the Ministry of National Defense will introduce two radar systems for ballistic missiles from 2008 to 2012. The government is considering four kinds of radar, including a type of Forward-Based X-band radar with a range of 1800 kilometers, the source added. FBX radar is high-powered X-band radar developed by the U.S. company Raytheon. It can collect real-time information on ballistic missiles within its range, such as the type, firing point, flying direction, and target, and convey it to anti-ballistic missile systems, like the Patriot missile system used by the United States. Japan is the only country outside of the United States to have deployed the radar system, which was put into service in 2006.

Deploying the radar system in Korea will make it easier to monitor ballistic missiles fired from China and Russia. Prof. Lee Cheol-gi of Dongguk University expressed the concern that Korea’s introduction of X-band radar could cause military tension with the two nations because, in order to deploy the system, Korea will have to join the U.S. missile defense system. It is for this reason that Korea has been reluctant to join the system, though the United States has repeatedly pressed Korea on the point.

It was reported that the M3R, made in France by ThalesRaytheonSystems, and the Green Pine, developed by Israel, have ranges of 1000 kilometers and 800 kilometers, respectively. The Green Pine, which has a range of 500 kilometers, is the only radar system whose sole target is North Korea.

Seoul’s request was for radar systems with a range of more than 500 kilometers, but did not specify the upper limit of the range. In the past, South Korea has not been enthusiastic about joining the U.S. missile defense system. Since North Korea conducted nuclear tests in 2006, however, the nation has been rushing to build an anti-ballistic missile system aimed at intercepting ballistic missiles from the North.

On March 18, the U.S. media company Defense News reported that South Korea is considering providing a place for MD and sharing the costs of deployment with the United States. The Joint Chiefs of Staff, however, denied the report. In an interview with a Korean media outlet in December 2007, Kim Tae-hyo, a presidential secretary, said that South Korea should accept the U.S. demand to join missile defense in a way that links the Korean anti-ballistic missile system to existing systems in the United States and Japan. At that time, Kim was a key aide to President Lee during his presidential campaign. (Source: Hankyoreh.) (SITE NOTE: The MDS is something that the anti-war groups have always protested. The purchase of the X-band radar would give it the same capabilities as Japan and could be used in the same manner with SM-3 missiles on Aegis destroyers for high altitude strikes and Patriot missiles for low-altitude missiles. In this way it could be incorporated into the MDS line that the US and Japan are jointly developing. However, the big problem is where they can get the money as they recently had to delay military procurement programs because of lack of budgetary funds.)

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Defense Ministry Announces '09 Budget at $29 Billion (Jul 2008) The Defense Ministry yesterday submitted its 2009 budget proposal at 29 trillion won (approximately 29 billion dollars). The proposed budget is up 8.8 percent or 2.3 trillion won from this year’s, and is expected to account for 15.5 percent of the national budget. The ministry said 8.8 trillion won will go to improve defensive capabilities, up 15 percent from last year, and 20.2 trillion won will go to operational costs, up 6.3 percent.

Forty-two new defense projects will be launched next year. They include mass production of the XK2 Black Panther, which is considered one of the world’s best battle tanks; the development of mine sweeping helicopters; and the introduction of a 4,500-ton naval training ship. The ministry will produce tens of Black Panthers at 8.3 billion won each over for two years. They will be deployed from 2011. The combat abilities of the K-16 fighter will also be improved by allowing it to carry precision guided weapons, such as joint direct attack munitions.

Another 2.9 billion won will beef up efforts to excavate and identify soldiers killed during the Korean War, including the launch of an inter-Korean excavation project and the procurement of DNA testing equipment. “As the inter-Korean excavation project was agreed on at the second inter-Korean talks of defense ministers last year, it can be launched any time if the North is willing to participate,” a ministry official said.

Some 728 billion won will be used to build or improve residential facilities at bases for up to three years ahead of schedule. Another 542.5 billion won will go to increase the monthly wage of a corporal from 88,000 won to 94,000 won next year, up 6.8 percent.

According to the Defense Reform 2020 project announced in 2005, the defense budget must increase 9.6-9.9 percent a year between 2006 and 2010 to reinforce defense capabilities and the military structure. Defense spending, however, increased only 7.6 percent in 2006 and 8.8 percent last year.

Korea faces an economic crisis due to spiraling oil prices, so next year’s military expenditures are expected to see deeper cuts in further derailing the Defense Reform 2020 project. “As the government’s budget will be reduced, the defense budget will see lower growth,” a ministry official said. “We have postponed certain new projects that would cost some 150 billion won.” (Source: Donga Ilbo.)

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August 2008

U.S. to Sell Restricted Spy Aircraft to Korea (Aug 2008) The U.S. has notified the Korean government that it will sell it the Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance, unmanned reconnaissance aircraft after all. Government and military sources on Sunday said at the annual Security Policy Initiative in Washington in July, the U.S. government told Korea it will sell it the drone. During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, the U.S. declined several requests by the Korean government to sell the aircraft. But already in April, after the Lee Myung-bak administration was inaugurated, the U.S. informally notified Seoul there was a possibility it might sell the aircraft to Korea.

Global Hawk is a strategic reconnaissance aircraft that can fly up to 3,500 to 4,000 km, stay in the sky for more than 36 hours, and identify a 30 cm object on the ground from 20 km above. Each aircraft costs US$45 million. Some dozen U.S. allies including Japan, Australia and Singapore have wanted to purchase the aircraft. But the U.S. has regularly declined.

Overseas sales are prohibited under the Missile Technology Control Regime, a voluntary association of 33 countries, including Korea, that share the goal of non-proliferation of ballistic missiles and other unmanned delivery systems that could be used for chemical, biological and nuclear attacks. But according to sources, the U.S. has devised a new way not prohibited under the MTCR to sell the Global Hawk to Korea. (Source: Chosun Ilbo.) (SITE NOTE: There is no way to get around the MTCR with Russia objecting. This "government-to-government guarantee" must be pretty novel to override the Russian veto,)

Military Reconsidering Buying US Spy Aircraft (Aug 2008) The Defense Ministry is having second thoughts on the purchase of four U.S. Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicles, in line with a reassessment of arms improvement plans under the Defense Reform 2020 modernization program. A ministry official said on 11 Aug that Seoul was offered Global Hawks last month in working-level bilateral defense talks in Washington. The United States said it could sell the aircraft, of which overseas sales are prohibited under a global missile technology control agreement, via a ``government-to-government guarantee'' mechanism, he said. ``The defense reform plan is under review to readjust the target year, priority of weapons procurement and others,'' the official said, asking not to be named. ``That means the purchase of Global Hawks is also under review.''

Seoul had sought to buy four Global Hawks by 2011 as part of efforts to build independent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for its takeover of wartime operational control from Washington in 2012. The Global Hawk can survey vast areas with near pinpoint accuracy from as high as 65,000 feet for up to 35 straight hours. The price per unit is $45 million to $60 million.

The purchase hit a snag, however, over the restriction on overseas sales of the aircraft under the Missile Technology Control Regime, a voluntary association of countries which share the goal of non-proliferation of ballistic missiles and other delivery systems that could be used for chemical, biological and nuclear attacks. The inauguration of the Lee Myung-bak government in February, however, has changed things. Seoul began reviewing overall arms procurement under the 2020 initiative, which was pushed by the previous Roh Moo-hyun administration under as part of efforts toward ``self-reliant'' defense policies independent from the U.S. military. Earlier this year, several officials hinted at canceling the Global Hawk purchase due to budget constraints. Instead, Seoul plans to invest more in a program led by the state-funded Agency for Defense Development to develop domestic medium-altitude unmanned aerial vehicles, they said. (Source: Korea Times.)

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September 2008

Rocket Launch Delayed to Next Year (Sep 2008) South Korean ambitions to launch the country’s first space rocket by the end of the year will have to wait another few months. In a much-anticipated announcement on 5 Sep, the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), the country’s space agency, said the rocket launch would be pushed back to sometime during the second quarter of next year due to the late delivery of components for the launch pad and the decision to strengthen pre-flight system checks.

KARI had planned to send its Korea Space Launch Vehicle (KSLV-1), a carrier rocket designed for transporting satellites, into orbit on Dec. 21 from Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. The decision to reschedule the launch was made after a meeting with the space agency and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. ``Obviously, the priority is to put ourselves in the best position for a successful launch and it wouldn’t be reasonable for us to try too hard to meet the target date,” said Lee Ki-seong, an official from the ministry’s space development department.

Lee said the earthquake in Sichuan in May has contributed to the late delivery of rocket parts manufactured in China. The ministry also said it will form a special panel with Russian space authorities to examine the preparation for the KLVS-1 launch. The delay was pretty much expected after Russia’s Khrunichev State Research and Production Space Center, which is providing technology for the project, failed to deliver the ground test vehicle (GTV), a machine for testing the rocket engine and propulsion system, in time. The Russians had also requested the rocket launch to be pushed back, saying that the launch pad currently being built in Goheung will not be ready until at least March.

The GTV will be delivered through the Gimhae International Airport on Saturday, roughly a month later than original planned. The ministry said earlier in the week that the rocket has been insured for 200 billion won (about $195 million) to cover any damage caused during the launch and operation of the KLSV-1. The KSLV-1 is a dual-structured rocket, and the Russians are expected to build the lower assembly that contains the liquid-fuelled propulsion system. The upper part of the rocket, which carries the satellite, is made using domestic technology. (Source: Korea Times.)

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U.S. offers to sell 36 Apache helicopters at 60 percent of tag price (Sep 2008) The United States has offered to sell 36 used Apache attack helicopters to South Korea at less than 60 percent of the out-of-factory price, with upgrades to replace most of their critical parts, including the frame and engine, sources said on 14 Sep. The before-sale upgrades, often referred to as Block III, will essentially render the second-hand aircraft looking and performing as brand new, a source close to the envisioned deal said, asking to remain unidentified. "When the aircraft is disassembled for the Block III upgrade, it will get a new frame that will practically reset its age to zero," the source said.

An official at the aircraft's U.S. manufacturer, Boeing, said the upgrade will also include new engines. The official, also asking not to be identified, said a new frame has a life span of 10,000 hours. The deal, if signed, is expected to be worth some 900 billion won (US$811 million), or over 3 percent of the country's entire defense budget of 26 trillion won for this year. South Korean officials acknowledged the offer provides a rare opportunity to purchase AH-64D Apaches, which they said are "armed to the teeth" wi