For some time the surface-to-surface missile (SSM) development programs of South and North Korea were considered as separate issues. However, there was clearly an (asymmetric) arms race between the two Koreas in SSMs. This study tries to answer the fo...
For some time the surface-to-surface missile (SSM) development programs of South and North Korea were considered as separate issues. However, there was clearly an (asymmetric) arms race between the two Koreas in SSMs. This study tries to answer the following three questions: 1) When did South and North Korea first begin the SSM race? 2) Why did South and North Korea begin the SSM race? 3) What results can we observe from comparing the SSM capabilities between the two Koreas?
The arms race in missiles between the two Koreas began in the 1970s. South Korea (Republic of Korea or ROK) successfully completed the development of SSM as a part of its self-reliant national defense policy in the 1970s. North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea or DPRK) began SSM development in the mid-1970s jointly with China; however, after failed attempts North Korea introduced Soviet Scud-B missiles from Egypt in January 1980 and independent development of SSM began to gain a foothold. In the mid-1980s, North Korea developed a copy of the Scud-B missiles. During the same period, South Korea revived the Paekkom (Polar Bear) modified NHK-Ⅰ program and developed Hyunmu NHK-Ⅱ SSM.
In the early 1990s, North Korea succeeded in similar Scud-C and Nodong missile development and launched a long-range rocket in 1998. After North Korea successfully launched Paektusan-1, South Korea initiated SSM development system reform. South Korea negotiated with the United States to extend the ballistic missile range from 180㎞ to 300㎞ and disposed the range restriction of cruise missiles. This spurred development of cruise SSMs in South Korea in the 2000s, and in 2006 South Korea introduced a series of Hyunmu Ⅲ missiles that reached a maximum range of 1,500㎞. In addition, South Korea developed Hyunmu-Ⅱ ballistic missiles with a maximum range of 500㎞. During this time, North Korea conducted three nuclear tests, paraded what appeared to be intermediate-range ballistic missiles such as the Musudan and KN-08, and launched its space launch vehicles (SLV) Unha-2 and Unha-3. North Korea also developed short-range, solid-fueled SSM KN-02.
National security, with its continuing arms race and alliance relations, is the most influential factor in the SSM competition between the two Koreas. North Korea's raid on the Blue House in 1968, Rangoon bombing of 1983, and growing nuclear and missile capabilities resulted in South Korea’s response being the development of a self-reliant defense policy, and Hyunmu missile (Ⅱ and Ⅲ) development. In addition, changes in the ROK-US alliance such as the withdrawal of US forces have led South Korea to accelerate its military buildup. On the other hand, North Korea’s SSM development was influenced by South Korea's self-reliant military policy, the strengthened combined capabilities of ROK-US forces against North Korea's weakened conventional forces, and direct threat from the United States in the post-Cold War era. In addition, North Korea's weakened alliance with the Soviet Union also played a critical role in North Korea buildup of military force.
Non-security factors also influenced the SSM race. The leaderships of both Koreas actively took advantage of the SSM programs to strengthen their power. In addition, in South Korea, internal conflict/bureaucratic politics between the Ministry of National Defense and Agency for Defense Development (ADD) surrounding SSM development cannot be ignored. The International weapons of mass destruction (WMD) non-proliferation regime also served as an important factor in each Korea's SSM development.
Since the mid-2000s, heightening inter-Korean competition in SSM is likely to lead to a security dilemma. This dilemma can be solved when both South and North Korea reduce the threat of SSM together. As an alternative measure, both sides should consider limitation and reduction of short-range ballistic surface-to-surface missiles, which are relatively comparable in size. Even from a symbolic perspective, the impact of such agreement would be highly influential on future inter-Korean relations.