South Korea strengthening three-axis defense system, enhancing readiness

Felix Kim

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has unveiled plans to significantly bolster the country’s three-axis defense system. The system, a pillar of national security, is designed to counter the persistent threat posed by North Korea through three key components: the Kill Chain preemptive strike system, the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system, and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) plan.

The proposals focus on enhancing operational capabilities, integrating advanced technologies and reinforcing South Korea’s longtime alliance with the United States.

The MND’s report calls for expediting the development and deployment of weapons systems, improving acquisition processes, and conducting rigorous exercises to refine operational concepts. “We will establish a strong national defense posture to effectively respond to any provocation by North Korea,” the MND stated in August 2024.

Integrating advanced reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities is key to the enhancements, Dr. Bruce Bennett, a Rand Corp. expert on Northeast Asian military issues, told FORUM. Such capabilities are vital to enabling preemptive strikes and improving missile defense. “They plan to use satellites to locate nuclear forces, nuclear weapons and also North Korean leadership,” he said.

Among South Korea’s significant strides in this area is the deployment of its first military reconnaissance satellite, which was launched in December 2023 and declared “fit for combat” by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) in mid-August 2024.

The satellite features electro-optical/infrared capabilities for surveillance even at night. DAPA hailed the achievement as a major advance for the Kill Chain.

A second reconnaissance satellite was launched in April 2024 and is equipped with synthetic aperture radar, which strengthens Seoul’s ability to monitor North Korea and identify targets in all weather conditions.

Under the KAMD component, South Korea is developing missile defense as an addition to U.S.-provided systems to counter Pyongyang’s strategy of seeking to overwhelm missile defenses with saturation attacks, Bennett said.

Efforts to upgrade the KMPR, which aims to deliver a devastating retaliatory strike should North Korea attack, focus on integrating artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber capabilities to enhance response speed and precision.

AI will be crucial in accelerating the identification of North Korean targets. It can “significantly reduce the intelligence cycle time by quickly identifying leadership, missiles and nuclear weapons locations through pattern matching and other methods,” Bennett said.

The three-axis system is underpinned by the U.S. “nuclear umbrella,” an essential element in deterring Pyongyang’s use of nuclear weapons, Bennett noted. In July 2024, Seoul and Washington signed joint guidelines on nuclear deterrence and nuclear operations on the Korean Peninsula, which seek to strengthen “a credible and effective nuclear deterrence policy and posture,” according to a joint statement.

To support the three-axis enhancements, the DAPA announced a 12% increase in system funding for 2024, taking annual spending to $5.27 billion, the Janes defense analysis website reported. The funding will support 57 projects, including development of missile defense systems and command and control technologies.

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