National Defense Minister Soe Uk pledged to work closely with the private sector to modernize the space industry
SEOUL, June 21. /TASS/. The Republic of Korea will strengthen its defense capabilities in the space sector and create a system to combat threats in space. This was stated on Monday by the Minister of National Defense So Uk, according to the KBS TV channel.
"The lifting of restrictions on the range and load of South Korean missiles has opened up new horizons for the domestic defense industry. In this regard, new observation satellites will be actively created, " the Minister stressed.
He promised to work closely with the private sector to modernize the country's space industry as a whole, which "will make it possible to get tangible results in the short term, along with achieving long-term goals in the satellite and rocket industries."
In May, US President Joe Biden and South Korean leader Moon Jae-in agreed to cancel the agreement on limiting the range of South Korean ballistic missiles.
In 2012, the Republic of Korea signed a treaty with the United States, according to which it could increase the range of its missiles from 300 km to 800 km. The agreement also provided for an increase in the weight of the warheads of the missiles, including also those with a range of less than 800 km. In accordance with the bilateral agreements of 1979, as well as with the changes made in 2001, the range of South Korean missiles until 2012 could not exceed 300 km, and the weight of the warhead was a maximum of 500 kg.
