South Korea’s Hypersonic Trade-Off
Ju Hyung Kim
October 21, 2026
Seoul should evaluate whether investment in inexpensive drones would deliver more practical benefits than hypersonic weapons.
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Seoul should evaluate whether investment in inexpensive drones would deliver more practical benefits than hypersonic weapons.
South Korea has a robust navy that could help in Hormuz. A closer look reveals that its core ships are intricately integrated with deterrence on the Korean peninsula.
Seoul is planning to deploy four electronic warfare aircraft by 2034. Such a decision is a landmark that indicates a doctrinal shift.
A transfer could slow decision-making and complicate alliance coordination during the unprecedented chaos of a dual contingency.
While the United States maintains extended deterrence commitments to South Korea and Taiwan, a pressing question looms—would the U.S. commit military forces at scale, and for as long as necessary, on both fronts?
