The United States is considering relocating key air defense systems from South Korea to the Middle East to prevent depletion of its missile defense stockpiles, according to a report by the South Korean newspaper The Chosun Daily.
Military analysts cited in the report said potentially redeployable assets include Patriot air defense systems stationed at US bases in South Korea, a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery positioned in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, and MQ-9 Reaper surveillance drones permanently deployed at Gunsan Air Base since last year. The systems in question include the THAAD and Patriot missile system, both critical components of Washington’s regional missile shield.
South Korean defense experts have voiced concern that any transfer of US air defense assets could weaken the country’s national security posture at a time of persistent missile threats from North Korea.
Shin Jong-woo, secretary general of the Korea Defense Research Forum, warned that if airstrikes in the Middle East become prolonged, the United States could rely more heavily on combat capabilities and assets currently based in South Korea.
Im Cheol-gyun, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for Strategic Studies, cautioned that redeploying US air defense systems could create significant vulnerabilities given Seoul’s exposure to North Korean ballistic missile threats.
In June last year, ahead of a strike on Iranian nuclear facilities, Washington withdrew three of its eight Patriot batteries from South Korea and redeployed more than 500 troops to the Middle East in preparation for potential Iranian retaliation. Those forces returned in October.
Just before the outbreak of the current war, the Financial Times cited a US military official as saying that up to 150 THAAD interceptor missiles were expended during last year’s 12-day conflict, raising concerns over possible shortages if hostilities were to intensify.
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