As the new year of 2025 begins, security threats surrounding the Korean Peninsula continue. On the 6th of this month, North Korea resumed missile provocations after two months by launching a medium-range ballistic missile into the East Sea, and on the 14th and 25th, it also fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. Amidst the chaotic domestic and international situation, there is growing interest in our military's defense posture as tensions rise in the international community. This sheds light on the Korean-style three-axis system, a key concept of defense power in response to North Korean threats.[Editor's note]
The first axis of the Korean-style three-axis system, known as the "Kill Chain," relates to surveillance and preemptive strikes. In peacetime, the military detects North Korea's nuclear and missile threats in real time through satellites and reconnaissance aircraft and identifies targets. The goal of the Kill Chain is to quickly strike key enemy facilities using effective means the moment signs of North Korean threats become evident.
The core power for monitoring North Korea is reconnaissance satellites. Our military is currently promoting the "425 project," which aims to secure one electro-optical (EO) and infrared (IR) satellite and four synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites by this year. So far, a total of three satellites, including one EO/IR satellite and two SAR satellites, have successfully been placed into orbit, and two more SAR satellites will be launched this year.
The EO/IR satellites visualize and provide image data acquired using visible light and infrared in a highly readable format. SAR satellites emit signals toward the ground and receive reflected signals to generate images, functioning complementarily to EO/IR satellites without being affected by weather or time conditions. The Korean reconnaissance satellites are being developed by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI), with Hanwha System supplying the payload.
In the air, airborne early warning and control aircraft, known as the "sky command post," monitor the airspace 24 hours a day, directing friendly fighter jets and naval vessels. The Air Force currently operates four Boeing E-737 Peace Eye aircraft and plans to decide on procuring an additional four this year. The candidates include the E-737, L3 Harris' G6500, and Saab's GlobalEye.
At sea, the 3,000-ton class Jangbogo-Ⅲ submarines (Dosan AnChang-ho, Anmu, Shin Cheyho) are searching for enemy submarines and surface ships. These submarines are equipped with submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), allowing them to silently strike key facilities in case of an emergency.
Dosan AnChang-ho and Anmu were built by Hanwha Ocean, while Shin Cheyho was constructed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. The Navy is promoting the Jangbogo-III Batch-II project to acquire three new submarines by 2029, all of which will be built by Hanwha Ocean.
At the ground level, the core of the Kill Chain is the Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile (KTSSM). The KTSSM is a guided missile system that can simultaneously strike long-range artillery threatening the capital area within minutes at the start of hostilities. Its range is known to be about 180 kilometers, and it has been developed using domestic technology from 2014 to 2019. Since last year, the military has begun developing a new model (KTSSM-Ⅱ) with an extended range of 300 kilometers, planning to cover Sinuiju.
In the air, the F-35A fighter jet is considered a key asset for preemptive strikes. Lockheed Martin's fifth-generation multirole fighter, the F-35A, can fly at speeds up to Mach 1.6 (1,958 kilometers per hour) and has a combat radius of 1,093 kilometers, allowing it to cover all of North Korea. It is also noted for its stealth capabilities, which disable enemy electronic equipment, making it a fighter jet that the North Korean leadership fears the most.
The Air Force has procured 40 F-35A jets at a cost of 7.77 trillion won from 2019 to 2021. Currently, it operates 39 aircraft from the remaining fleet at Cheongju Air Base, excluding one that was retired due to damage from a collision with an eagle in 2022. The Air Force plans to purchase an additional 20 jets by 2028.