Here is a STRATFOR situation report that says that the US is against lifting its South Korea missile ban because of fears of angering China:
Washington opposes revising the guidelines that restrict South Korea’s missile range to less than 300 kilometers (186 miles), Chosun reported Dec. 4. Officials from the United States and South Korea failed to come to an agreement when they discussed the issue at the South Korean Defense Ministry on Dec. 1, but agreed to meet again in early 2012. Washington is reportedly concerned that extending the range would provoke North Korea and impact its relations with China. A government official said the United States is concerned that extending the range to 1,000 kilometers would bring Beijing within reach. [STRATFOR]
![[Valid RSS]](http://rokdrop.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/valid-rss-rogers.png "Validate my RSS feed")
12:12 am on December 8th, 2011 1
South Korea should just go ahead and do what they think will keep them safe. US leadership in the Pacific Rim is and has been very poor. If South Korea thinks missle ranges should be longer, so be it.
6:30 am on December 8th, 2011 2
#1,
It’s not even about defense, really. South Korea is an arms exporter, one which competes with American manufacturers.
11:21 am on December 8th, 2011 3
#2
THAT is the real reason. And I believe the ban is on ‘ballistic’ missiles? Long ranged ballistic missiles can also be turned into satellite launching vehicle?
The theory about not wanting to provoke China is kinda weird because I think S Korea already has tons of cruise missiles that can reach parts of China. but oh well.
7:01 am on December 9th, 2011 4
That says a lot about the KOR-US relationship…
1:50 pm on December 11th, 2011 5
[...] these guidelines to allow ranges of up to one thousand kilometers.On December 1st, Washington declined the revision, wishing to maintain South Korea’s current status within the Missile Technology Control [...]
7:29 am on May 25th, 2012 6
“It’s not even about defense, really. South Korea is an arms exporter, one which competes with American manufacturers.”
Teadrinker. Once again, that’s stupid. None of these Korean missiles under development or production are built for export.
“Korea has been independently developing it without technology transfer from the United States, but has been closely consulting with Washington in accordance with the New Missile Guidelines (NMG) agreed between the two allies.”
The official added that the Haeseong II will not be exported as Korea is a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the multinational effort to restrict the proliferation of missiles.
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/09/113_95503.html
The 500-600 ballistic and cruise missiles are the equivalent land-attack firepower of a dozen USN Aegis destroyers, which pretty much encompasses the entire destroyer fleet that the Seventh Fleet has deployed in the vicinity of Korea. Korea will spend (not earn) $2.1 billion dollars in the next five years to get this capability. Do you really think it’s even remotely meant as a money-making venture? Well sure, LIG and their chaebol friends may get some token money out of it, but that $300 million-odd revenue is just puny compared to the $300 billion they make in the civilian market.
7:56 am on May 25th, 2012 7
“The theory about not wanting to provoke China is kinda weird because I think S Korea already has tons of cruise missiles that can reach parts of China. but oh well.”
These tons of missiles are subsonic cruise missiles that are not as lethal as ballistic or supersonic cruise missiles. But Korea will get them all eventually if China continues to remain a threat even if the US does not share the same concern. It’s generally true that the US is apprehensive of Korea becoming a military threat to China with domestic capabilities, as the US could (somewhat mistakenly) be viewed as having approved of it and affect relations with China. Keeping Korea’s most lethal military capabilities in stasis through both support (USFK and nuke umbrella) and pressure (bilateral missile agreements like this) is a means of keeping China appeased (but in the process, defensive capabilities against NK is also weakened somewhat). The US already messed up Taiwan’s F-16 deal for the same reason.
9:45 am on May 25th, 2012 8
For the record, a quick fact-checking reveals that the US shock-and-awe campaign in 2003 Iraq used 725 Tomahawk missiles and 450 ATACMS. The ROKA is known to have maintained an arsenal of 100 Hyunmoo-2A ballistic missiles converted from decommissioned Nike Hercules since 2004, and scores more of Hyunmoo-3 cruise missiles since 2006. It also possesses 220 ATACMS, and another 100-km range SRBM is being developed for K-MLRS Cheonmu. The ROKN is readying to deploy the Cheonryong cruise missiles in its destroyers and submarines and the ROKAF will purchase 173 stealth cruise missiles. The above acquisitions are all exclusive of the 500-600 missile program. Operation North Korean Freedom sounds about right.