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South Korea, U.S. boost space development collaboration

Felix Kim

South Korea and the United States will bolster space and strengthen joint space capabilities under a new agreement. The deal comes after U.S. Army Gen. James H. Dickinson, commander of U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM), toured space organizations in South Korea and as Seoul’s domestic development of space capabilities increases.

The Space Policy Joint Study agreement was signed in late April 2022 during the 18th session of the nations’ Space Cooperation Working Group in Washington, according to South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense.

The agreement, the first of its kind between the allies, outlines how to enhance response capabilities in the face of increasing threats to space security. Among the measures: information sharing to boost understanding of the space domain; joint exercises and training; improving interoperability; and enhancing defense and space cooperation, including joint space operations.

South Korea and the U.S. “are making great efforts to improve the space operation capabilities of the alliance,” according to a South Korean Defense Ministry statement.

Dickinson visited the Korean Space Operations Center and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) in mid-March 2022, and held talks on space cooperation with Gen. Park In-ho, chief of staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force, and U.S. Army Gen. Paul LaCamera, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, while in South Korea, according to USSPACECOM. (Pictured: Gen. Park In-ho, chief of staff of the Republic of Korea Air Force, left, and U.S. Army Gen. James H. Dickinson, commander of U.S. Space Command, meet in South Korea in March 2022.)

At the space operations center, which is responsible for South Korea’s space policy development, Dickinson discussed mission areas such as space situational awareness, space weather, and position, navigation and timing. At KARI, he met with Lee Sang-Ryool, president of the institute, which is the nation’s principal civil space agency and oversees satellite research and development, and core technologies for space launch vehicles and select aircraft.

South Korea’s space capabilities took a leap in October 2021 with the launch of its three-stage Nuri rocket, which reached an altitude of 700 kilometers. Nuri is expected to eventually carry satellites into orbit. The nation’s space industry also can manufacture more powerful rocket engines than ever before after Seoul and Washington in May 2021 removed limits on the range of South Korea’s ballistic missiles, Defense News magazine reported.

Also in 2021, South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced plans to invest U.S. $13.6 billion to enhance the country’s space capabilities over the coming decade, including developing core technologies for defense satellites.

Felix Kim is a FORUM contributor reporting from Seoul, South Korea.

 

IMAGE CREDIT: U.S. SPACE COMMAND

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