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3/14/2008 [Total Votes: 467, Hits: 623]Print

Introduction
South Korea, officially known as the Republic of Korea is one of the worlds's most technologically and scientifically advanced countries. The country has been in a security alliance with the United States of America since the 1950s. It shares borders with North Korea, with which it was united till 1945 and with which it fought war during 1950-53. Both the countries still remain technically at war as no formal peace treaty was signed between the two signifying the end of the war.

Civil Nuclear Programme
South Korea has an extensive nuclear energy infrastructure, and officials have long expressed an interest in establishing an independent fuel cycle capability.¹ The country's peaceful nuclear programme can be traced to 1950s when it established infrastructure to operate a viable nuclear programme and also became a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The first research reactor began to operate in the year 1962 and the first power reactor in 1978.² South Korean leaders have attached great significance to the civilian nuclear programme, in view of the threat perception from North Korea and also in the unlikely situation of nuclear umbrella from the United States being withdrawn.

These reactors produce an approximately 30% of the total energy of South Korea.⁴

WMD Overview

(i). Nuclear Weapons
South Korea began nuclear weapons programme in the 1970s, in response to the Nixon doctrine's emphasis on self-defense for Asian allies but abandoned it after signing the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT).⁵ Reports indicate that despite this, the programme was clandestinely pursued till 1979. At present, in spite of possessing a sophisticated civil nuclear programme, South Korea has not really shown a keenness to develop nuclear weapons. Notwithstanding, the efforts to extract Plutonium in 1982 and uranium enrichment in 2000, there have been no dedicated efforts towards weaponisation.⁶ The know-how gathered from these experiments can certainly be used if South Korea decides to press for weaponisation in the event of deteriorating security environment on the Korean peninsula.

(ii). Chemical Weapons
In May 2000, it was reported that South Korea possessed an unidentified quantity of chemical weapons stockpile. Although that stockpile was slated for destruction under South Korea's obligation to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) which it joined in 1997.⁷

(iii). Biological Weapons
While South Korea possesses a well-developed pharmaceutical and biotech infrastructure, there is no evidence that it has an offensive biological weapons programme. Citing a biological threat from North Korea, South Korea conducts defensive biological weapon research and development, including the development of vaccines against anthrax and smallpox.⁸

Delivery Systems

As a conventional military, South Korea has robust weaponry. In terms of missiles, some of the prominent ones include a two-stage, solid fuel-based Hyunmoo Surface-to-Surface Missile (SSM). It has a range of 180 km with a payload of 500 kg. The Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) in its inventory includes Chun-ma.⁹ The South Korean Air Force operates versions of F-16 and F-15E, procured from the United States.¹⁰ While the South Korean Navy has primarily performed the task of nation's territorial waters and islands. The modernisation programme of the navy includes bringing in Aegis-class destroyers, next-generation submarines and anti-submarine aircraft.¹¹

End Notes:

[1]. Daneil A. Pinkston, "South Korea's Nuclear Experiments", http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/week/041109.htm, accessed on January 6, 2008.

[2]. Ibid.

[3]. "Country Profile: South Korea", "http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/SKorea/Nuclear/4406_4412.html, accessed on January 5, 2008.

[4]. "Nuclear Power in Korea", Briefing Paper # 81, January 2008, http://www.uic.com.au/nip81.htm, accessed on January 6, 2008.

[5]. "South Korea: Special Weapons", http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/rok/index.html, accessed on January 6, 2008.

[6]. Daneil A. Pinkston, "South Korea's Nuclear Experiments", http://cns.miis.edu/pubs/week/041109.htm, accessed on January 6, 2008.

[7]. "Chemical Weapons Stored in South Korea", People's Korea, http://www1.korea-np.co.jp/pk/139th_issue/2000051708.htm, accessed on January 6, 2008.

[8]. "South Korea: Nuclear Profile", http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/SKorea/index.html, accessed on January 6, 2008.

[9]. "South Korea Weapons", http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/weapons.htm, accessed on January 6, 2008.

[10]. Wikipedia contributors, "List of military equipment of Republic of Korea," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_military_equipment_of_Republic_of_Korea&oldid=174456616, accessed on January 6, 2008.

[11]. "South Korea Navy", http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/rok/navy.htm, accessed on January 6, 2008.

[12]. "Country Profile: South Korea- Treaties and Obligations", http://www.nti.org/e_research/official_docs/inventory/pdfs/skorea.pdf, accessed on January 6, 2008.

Related Tags:

Republic of Korea, Technologically and Scientifically Advanced Countries, Civil Nuclear Programme, Nuclear Energy Infrastructure, Peaceful Nuclear Programme, International Atomic Energy Agency, Nuclear Umbrella, Nixon Doctrine, Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, Sophisticated Civil Nuclear Programme, Chemical Weapons, Chemical Weapons Convention, CWC, Biological Weapons, Biological Threat, Vaccines Against Anthrax, Surface-to-Surface Missile, SSM, Surface-to-Air Missiles, SAMs, Aegis-Class Destroyers, Anti-Submarine Aircraft, Next-Generation Submarines

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