Korean Information Service, Until the late 1960s, South Korea had no defense industry, depending fully on military aid and equipment from the United States.
Not surprisingly, South Korea's weapon-making technology lagged far behind the development of consumer product industries such as shipbuilding and auto manufacturing.
But a North Korean attack, albeit unsuccessful, on the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, and the North's 1968 capture of the American espionage ship, the USS Pueblo, prompted Seoul to invest in the defense industry.
Now, the country's defense industry is quickly leaping to match that of other economic powers. Having secured the capacity to supply all of the conventional weapons needed for its own self-defense, it is now aiming to become a global market leader in arms sales.
The recent news that South Korea has won contracts with Turkey sounds an upbeat note for the burgeoning defense industry.
Turkey announced last month that it has signed a deal worth about $450 million with South Korea's aerospace giant, Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), to acquire dozens of KT-1 basic trainer jets. The KT-1 has been already sold to Indonesia.
Turkey has also decided to purchase South Korea's technology for a brand-new amphibious battle tank equipped with an auto-loaded 120-mm cannon. The XK-2, nicknamed the “Black Panther,” has the ability to combat helicopters.
“The accomplishment is attributable to joint efforts by the government and related companies to improve the quality of defense products and enhance competitiveness,” said Han Seung-jae, an official at the defense industry promotion bureau at the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).
Formed in early 2006, the independent government agency is in charge of South Korea's procurement and sales of military equipment. The DAPA has been assigned the task of raising the transparency and effectiveness of the arms trade, formerly handled by a defense procurement office under the Defense Ministry.
Also on the short list of Seoul's arms export items are K-9 155-mm self-propelled howitzers, with ranges of more than 40 km, and a T-50 supersonic trainer jet, which can be converted to a light bomber.
Last Friday, the Agency for Defense Development declared the successful development of an advanced infantry fighting vehicle, code-named “K21.” The 26-ton vehicle is equipped with a mounted, stabilized 40-millimeter automatic cannon, a 7.63-mm machine gun and a launcher for anti-tank guided missiles. It is known for superb river-crossing ability, and is able to travel at speeds of up to 70 km per hour on land, and 7.8 km per hour in water.
Korea also showcased its ability to produce various types of high-tech missiles last year by developing the Haeseong (Sea Star) ship-to-ship cruise missile, and the portable Singung (God's Bow) anti-aircraft missile. Haeseong has been replacing U.S.-made Harpoon missiles, while Singung is an alternative to Stinger missiles.
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