South Korea confirms missile interceptor test, draws lessons from Ukraine crisis

[Boats]

South Korea confirms missile interceptor test, draws lessons from Ukraine crisis
By: Ifang Bremer - NK*News - 02-28-22
Re: https://www.nknews.org/2022/02/south...kraine-crisis/

Meeting of top defense officials follows North Korea’s test of a ‘reconnaissance satellite’ on Sunday.

Top South Korean defense officials met Monday to discuss North Korea’s successive missile launches and the situation in Ukraine, according to Seoul’s Ministry of National Defense, while confirming the “successful test” of a domestically produced missile defense system.

At the meeting, defense minister Suh Wook reportedly suggested that Russia’s ongoing military invasion of Ukraine has implications for South Korea.

“Based on the lessons learned from the crisis in Ukraine, maintaining a strong national defense force is the only way to preserve peace,” the defense minister said, according to a ministry press release.

Monday’s meeting of defense officials came as North Korea claimed that it tested a “reconnaissance satellite” system on Sunday. Pyongyang has now conducted eight separate launch events this year, including “hypersonic” and intermediate-range ballistic missiles.

The military leaders also watched footage showing a recent test of South Korea’s domestically produced long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM) defense system at Monday’s meeting, according to the ministry. Reports have indicated that Seoul successfully tested the system last Wednesday.

The L-SAM is South Korea’s latest addition to a range of systems designed to protect the country from North Korean missiles. These defenses include the medium-range surface-to-air guided weapon system, Patriot Missiles and the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system.

The different systems provide so-called layered defense that enables the South Korean military to intercept North Korean missiles at different heights, according to Seoul’s defense ministry.

The development of the indigenous L-SAM system is part of South Korea’s Intermediate-Term National Defense Plan announced in 2020. Under this five-year plan, Seoul also seeks to develop its own version of Israel’s well-known Iron Dome system.

Edited by Bryan Betts

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Personal note: What we have going on right now is a Learing Curve for other
Nations. Defense is the best Offense and they are learning this pretty quick
of late. Smaller Nations learn from other's - How To and What Not To Do
and the ramifications of making the wrong move.
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