Journalist
Kim Hee-su김희수
khs@ajupress.com
ReporterMinistry of Foreign Affairs, Seoul City Hall & Defense, Foreign Affairs
Kim Hee-su is a bilingual reporter at AJU Press, covering defense and foreign affairs. Before joining AJP in 2025, she worked at The Korea Times, where she wrote interview stories, including a profile of North Korean defector Kim Gum-hyok, and produced digital content. She also previously worked as a researcher for KBS News 9’s International News Department, supporting correspondents in 10 countries around the world. She graduated from the University of Toronto in Canada with a double major in Book and Media Studies and East Asian Studies.
"I'm driven by storytelling."
Latest by Kim Hee-su
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Korean defense stocks stay hot as Gulf war exposes limits of U.S. shield SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - The war in the Gulf is winding down, but South Korean defense stocks remain hot as Gulf states would come out from the conflict with depleted air-defense inventories and questions about heavy reliance on U.S. weapons systems. Hanwha Aerospace closed 3.47 percent higher at 1,224,000 won on Wednesday, extending its weekly gain to 21 percent. Shares of LIG Defense & Aerospace, Hyundai Rotem and Hanwha Systems slipped slightly from a day earlier after recent rallies. The gains accelerated after details emerged of a U.S.-Iran agreement to end the conflict and a timetable for its formal signing. While an end to hostilities is often considered negative for defense stocks because it could reduce weapons demand, analysts say this conflict has created a different dynamic. The war exposed vulnerabilities in the Gulf's air-defense networks, rapidly depleted missile inventories and highlighted the high cost of defending against relatively cheap drones and missiles. That could ultimately benefit South Korean defense companies, which already have sizable order backlogs and are pursuing major contracts across the Middle East. "One of the traditional misconceptions about the defense industry is that share prices will inevitably fall when a war ends," Kang Tae-ho, an analyst at DS Investment & Securities, said. Kang said the end of the Iran conflict could instead become a positive turning point because greater regional stability would allow delayed export negotiations to resume. The Middle East remains one of the world's largest arms markets. Although the region's arms imports fell 13 percent between 2016-20 and 2021-25, it still accounted for 26 percent of global imports of major weapons during the latest five-year period, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates alone represented about 19 percent of global arms imports, or nearly three-quarters of the Middle East's total share. Saudi Arabia was the world's third-largest arms importer and Qatar ranked fourth, while Kuwait placed ninth. The figures also illustrate the Gulf's heavy dependence on U.S. weapons systems. The United States supplied 77 percent of Saudi Arabia's arms imports, 62 percent of Kuwait's, 48 percent of Qatar's and 42 percent of the UAE's during the period. But the war underscored the financial and operational risks of that dependence. Waves of relatively inexpensive Iranian drones and missiles forced Gulf states and U.S. forces to deploy interceptor missiles costing millions of dollars apiece, rapidly draining inventories and exposing the difficulty of sustaining such a defense over a prolonged conflict. "Everyone started doing the maths. It simply doesn't make economic sense," Toru Tokushige, chief executive of Terra Drone, told a U.S.-based media outlet. A ground-launched Patriot interceptor costs roughly $4 million, compared with as little as $20,000 for an Iranian-designed Shahed drone. The conflict created an immediate need to replenish missile inventories and strengthen regional command systems. In May, the U.S. administration invoked emergency authority to approve more than $8.6 billion in arms sales to Middle Eastern allies without the usual congressional review process. The package included $4.01 billion in Patriot air and missile defense replenishment services for Qatar, a $2.5 billion integrated battle command system for Kuwait and precision-guided weapons for the UAE. Analysts say Gulf governments are unlikely to abandon U.S. systems, but they are expected to diversify suppliers, add cheaper interceptors and build more layered defense networks to reduce the risk of shortages and long delivery times. The Arab Gulf States Institute said supplier diversification had become "an operational necessity" rather than simply a diplomatic choice because of global interceptor shortages and limited production capacity. It said Gulf states were shifting away from dependence on a small number of expensive platforms toward what it called "system-of-systems resilience," combining long-, medium- and short-range interceptors with counter-drone weapons, sensors, radars, electronic warfare systems and integrated command networks. The conflict also weakened confidence in the broader U.S. security umbrella. A report published by EMERiCs said the war had "exposed the limits of relying on the United States as a single supplier," as interceptor shortages and production bottlenecks made rapid replenishment difficult. Gulf governments are therefore expected to maintain security ties with Washington while expanding defense cooperation with other countries and engaging Tehran to reduce the risk of another confrontation. South Korea is well positioned to benefit from that shift because its defense companies can offer Western-compatible weapons, relatively short delivery schedules and more flexible terms for local production and technology transfer. The Arab Gulf States Institute identified South Korea's Cheongung-II medium-range surface-to-air missile system as a potential beneficiary, saying it could provide an affordable middle layer between strategic systems such as Patriot and shorter-range point-defense systems. LIG Defense & Aerospace, Hanwha Aerospace and Hanwha Systems all participate in the Cheongung-II supply chain. Kang also said Kuwait and Qatar, both of which came under direct Iranian attack but have not yet purchased the system, could emerge as new customers. DS Investment & Securities estimates that potential Cheongung-II contracts with each country could be worth about 1.5 trillion won. Additional orders could also come from existing customers, while Saudi Arabia and the UAE may consider South Korea's longer-range L-SAM system. Analysts note that the end of the war is unlikely to erase regional security concerns, as Iran retains much of its missile capability and armed groups such as Hezbollah and the Houthis remain active threats across the Middle East. 2026-06-17 18:00:13 -
Hanwha becomes KAI's second-largest shareholder after raising stake SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) - Hanwha Group has raised its combined stake in Korea Aerospace Industries Co. to 9.04 percent, becoming the aircraft maker’s second-largest shareholder after the government, the group said Tuesday. Hanwha Aerospace said in a regulatory filing that it has secured a 6.5 percent stake in aircraft manufacturing monopoly, completing earlier than planned its goal of investing 500 billion won ($330 million) to buy additional shares in the company by the end of this year. Hanwha Systems also acquired additional KAI shares worth 125 billion won, raising its stake to 1.53 percent. Combined with the 1.01 percent stake held by Hanwha Aerospace USA, the group now holds 9.04 percent of KAI. The stake makes Hanwha the second-largest shareholder of KAI after the Export-Import Bank of Korea, which holds 26.41 percent. Hanwha Aerospace also held a board meeting Tuesday and approved a plan to invest another 500 billion won by the end of this year to raise its own stake in KAI to 9.97 percent, based on KAI’s closing price of 147,600 won on Monday. If completed, Hanwha Group’s total stake in KAI is expected to exceed 12 percent. Hanwha previously changed the purpose of its KAI shareholding from simple investment to management participation. The group said it will consider matters related to KAI’s decision-making process through lawful procedures as a shareholder, while taking into account the interests of the company, shareholders and other stakeholders. Hanwha said the stake increase is aimed at strengthening South Korea’s national security and enhancing the global competitiveness of the country’s space and aerospace industries. The group said greater cooperation between Hanwha and KAI could help reduce overlapping investment and create synergy in the domestic space and aerospace sector. Hanwha has invested for more than 30 years in areas including aircraft engines, avionics, radar, satellites, space launch vehicles and ground defense systems. KAI is South Korea’s only aircraft developer and manufacturer and also has capabilities in satellite development and air combat systems. Hanwha Aerospace is based in Changwon, while KAI is based in Sacheon, both in South Gyeongsang Province. The group said closer cooperation between the two companies could also support the development of a southern space and aerospace industrial belt linking Changwon, Sacheon and Goheung, where the Naro Space Center is located. 2026-06-17 13:45:43 -
South Korea redraws decades-old borderlines with North Korea SEOUL, June 17 (AJP) -South Korea is redrawing lines along the world's most heavily fortified border with North Korea, easing decades-old military restrictions to reflect changing security conditions, a shrinking military-age population and advances in modern warfare. The Defense Ministry said Wednesday it will move the civilian control line about 2 kilometers northward, opening up swaths of tightly regulated border areas and reducing long-standing restrictions on residents. The changes will affect an area equivalent to about 240 times the size of Yeouido, Seoul's main financial district. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back announced the plan during a briefing in Seoul, calling it part of a broader effort to modernize military regulations that were established under very different security conditions. Under the plan, the civilian control line, which currently lies an average of 8 kilometers south of the Military Demarcation Line (MDL), will be shifted to around 6 kilometers south of the border dividing the two Koreas. The civilian control line is a military access boundary established by the Defense Ministry for operational and security purposes. It runs through parts of Ganghwa Island, Gyeonggi Province and Gangwon Province within 10 kilometers south of the MDL. As a result of the adjustment, controlled protection zones equivalent to about 90 times the size of Yeouido will be downgraded to restricted protection zones, which are subject to fewer regulations. The ministry said the change will be implemented in phases beginning next year after military guard posts are relocated and additional surveillance systems, including closed-circuit television cameras, are installed. The government will also lift restrictions in other military protection zones south of the MDL, saying some areas have remained under strict controls despite having little strategic significance under modern defense systems. Areas equivalent to about 150 times the size of Yeouido are expected to be released from military restrictions. Starting in the second half of this year, the ministry will conduct operational assessments and topographical surveys before gradually removing restrictions in locations that do not affect military readiness. The ministry also plans to remove 23 military obstacles whose operational value has diminished, beginning next year, to ease inconveniences for residents living near the border. In another move aimed at improving daily life, authorities will introduce an online and mobile-based entry system for people entering civilian control zones. Regulations for agricultural drones will also be relaxed. Currently, farmers in border areas must obtain both flight approval and military authorization every time they operate drones, making timely pest control difficult. Under the new system, farmers will receive pre-approval twice a year, valid for six months at a time. Once approved, they will only need to notify authorities one day before operating drones within the designated area and period. Approval zones will also be expanded from individual land parcels to township and village units, while the number of required documents will be reduced from seven to five. "The Defense Ministry will swiftly and systematically carry out follow-up measures so that regulatory improvements can strengthen security while enhancing public convenience," Ahn said. "The ministry will continue to actively respond to changes in the security environment and do its utmost to ensure that security and public convenience are balanced," he added. 2026-06-17 11:40:23 -
Seoul wants to merge officer corps. The military disagrees SEOUL, June 16 (AJP) -South Korea remains a peninsula technically still at war, its troops facing a nuclear-armed North Korea across one of the world's most heavily fortified borders. That reality has long shaped how the country trains its military officers — which is why the liberal government's push to merge the Army, Navy and Air Force academies is drawing fierce resistance from alumni associations, retired generals and the parents of current cadets. The backlash centers on a fundamental objection: that a decision with profound implications for the country's defense architecture is being rushed through without adequate public debate, transparent review or protections for students already in the system. The timing sharpens the stakes. As wars in Ukraine and the Middle East prompt nations to rethink military readiness, and as Washington quietly withdraws from its role as global guarantor, South Korea's defense industry has simultaneously emerged as a leading arms exporter, winning major overseas contracts and raising the country's international profile. Critics find the contrast dissonant: Korean weapons are gaining ground abroad even as the domestic system for training the officers who would wield them is being restructured on a contested and largely unexplained rationale. The government's proposal — a "2+2" model in which first- and second-year cadets would share a common curriculum at a new joint institution before dispersing to their respective service academies for advanced training — has been framed by the Defense Ministry as a way to strengthen jointness, reduce administrative redundancy and improve academic standards through ties with civilian universities. Legislation could come as early as July, with implementation targeted for 2028. Currently, the Army, Navy and Air Force academies operate separately as four-year institutions, with cadets choosing their service from the time of admission and receiving service-specific academic and military training. The Defense Ministry has presented the merger as a way to strengthen jointness among the services, address declining entrance scores and lower commissioning rates, reduce overlap in personnel and budgets, and improve education through exchanges with civilian universities. The ministry also said the government is considering implementation in 2028 while pursuing legislation as early as July. The KMA alumni association rejected the argument that merging the academies would automatically strengthen joint operations. Retired officers at the meeting said jointness is built after officers first develop service-specific expertise, then learn to operate together through field exercises, staff assignments and professional military education. They argued that the Army, Navy and Air Force require fundamentally different early training. The Army needs ground tactics and leadership; the Navy requires navigation and maritime operations; and the Air Force needs aviation-related education and pilot training. Compressing these into a two-year common program, they said, could weaken the professional identity and technical foundation of future officers. “Putting the academies together is not jointness. It is uniformity,” retired Maj. Gen. Shin Sang-kyun said. “The more complex the battlefield becomes, with AI, drones and multi-domain operations, the more each service needs deeper specialization.” “It is standardization. Jointness means operating together while maintaining each service’s strengths,” Shin added. Shin said countries with large militaries or serious wartime requirements generally maintain separate service academies because officers must be ready to perform their duties immediately after commissioning. He said smaller militaries may choose integrated systems for economic reasons, but argued that South Korea’s security environment is different. “Canada has a military of about 60,000, so operating separate academies may not be economical,” he said. “But South Korea has a large military and faces a real security threat. In that environment, I do not think integration is appropriate.” He also cited Venezuela as a case where academy integration under former President Hugo Chavez was pursued for political control rather than military effectiveness. Even North Korea, he said, operates a separate air force academy despite having a more centralized military structure. Shin was especially critical of the proposed “2+2” model, saying it would delay service-specific education until the third year and weaken professional training. He said the concern is particularly serious for the Air Force, where pilot training requires long-term preparation and high costs. Under the current four-year system, he said, only a portion of Air Force Academy graduates become fighter pilots despite intensive training. “If that is difficult even under a four-year program, can it really be done in two years?” Shin said. Shin also warned that allowing cadets to choose their service after two years of common education could create competition and hierarchy among the services, rather than jointness. He said the Air Force Academy could become more popular because pilot training may offer clearer post-service career paths, including opportunities in the civilian aviation sector, while the Army could become less attractive. Critics also questioned why the government is focusing on the service academies when South Korea commissions officers through several different tracks. The three service academies are the most visible and prestigious route, providing four years of residential academic and military education before cadets are commissioned as officers in their respective services. But they are not the only source of junior officers. South Korea also commissions officers through ROTC programs at civilian universities, officer candidate schools, the Korea Army Academy at Yeongcheon and other specialized tracks for medical, legal, chaplain and technical officers. For the 2027 academic year, the Korea Military Academy is scheduled to admit 330 cadets, the Korea Naval Academy 170 and the Korea Air Force Academy 235, bringing the combined annual intake to 735. South Korea maintains a conscription-based military of about 450,000 active-duty troops, while facing North Korea’s estimated 1.2 million-strong force across one of the world’s most heavily fortified borders. Participants said academy graduates account for only about 14 percent of newly commissioned officers, with the rest coming from other programs such as ROTC and officer candidate courses. That figure, they argued, raises questions about why the government is targeting the academy system if the stated goal is to strengthen jointness across the entire military. “If merging the academies is truly essential to strengthening jointness, does that mean only the 14 percent trained through the academies will have jointness?” one retired officer said. “Are ROTC and other officers supposed to begin their careers without it?” One father of a third-year cadet said cadets were reluctant to speak publicly because of their military status, leaving parents to raise concerns on their behalf. The parent said the families were not simply opposing reform, but asking the government to explain the plan, disclose its review process and listen to the cadets directly. “Our children are not extras,” the parent said. “Please do not make them victims of a political experiment. Please protect the dreams of the children we sent for national security.” Opposition to the plan has also extended beyond alumni circles. Kim Han-na, the wife of the late Chief Petty Officer Han Sang-guk, one of the six South Korean sailors killed in the 2002 Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, staged a one-person protest in Gwanghwamun last Friday against the proposed academy merger. She said she decided to protest because she believed the merger proposal had not been sufficiently explained to the public. “I thought merging the academies made no sense, so I came out onto the street,” Kim said. The Defense Ministry has not yet publicly released a final version of the plan. For many families, the issue is no longer an abstract debate over military education. “These cadets entered the academy believing in a certain path,” another parent who requested anonymity said. “They deserve an explanation before that path is changed.” 2026-06-16 17:25:10 -
Washington extends tech controls from chips to AI models SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - A U.S. government order forcing Anthropic to block foreign access to its newest AI models is raising fears that Washington is opening a new front in the global technology race, extending export controls beyond semiconductors and into the AI models themselves. Anthropic said late Friday it had suspended access to its newest models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, after receiving a U.S. government order barring access by foreign nationals on national security grounds. The company said the order did not provide detailed evidence explaining the security concerns. The decision marks one of Washington's most direct interventions yet in frontier AI development. Until now, U.S. restrictions had largely targeted high-end chips, semiconductor equipment and advanced computing infrastructure, particularly in relation to China. The Anthropic case suggests the government may now seek to regulate access to the AI models themselves. Industry officials said the move could amount to the creation of a government approval system for frontier AI, under which companies may need permission before allowing foreign users — or even foreign employees — to access their most powerful systems. Anthropic said it suspended access for all users because it could not immediately distinguish U.S. citizens from foreign nationals in real time. The restrictions also apply to foreign employees inside the United States. The administration's concerns appear to center on whether Mythos 5 could be "jailbroken," allowing users to bypass safety guardrails designed to prevent misuse for cyberattacks, biological weapons development or other harmful purposes. Those concerns are not unfounded. The International AI Safety Report 2026 warned that AI systems are already capable of discovering software vulnerabilities and generating malicious code, adding that criminal organizations and state-backed actors are using general-purpose AI in cyber operations. But some experts questioned the rationale behind the order. Katie Moussouris, chief executive of Luta Security, said she had reviewed the research paper that prompted the administration's action and argued the issue had been mischaracterized. "It is not a jailbreak," she said, describing it instead as a defensive safeguard designed to limit misuse. "If national defense is the goal, this is an own goal," she added. David Sacks, a former White House AI czar and ally of President Donald Trump, defended the move, saying on X that a "highly credible" partner had discovered a way to bypass Anthropic's safeguards and that the company had refused to fix the issue. Reuters and The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Amazon CEO Andy Jassy had raised security concerns about Anthropic’s latest AI model with senior U.S. officials. Amazon is Anthropic’s major investor and cloud partner, with Reuters reporting that it added $5 billion to its earlier $8 billion investment in April. Some analysts, however, warned that similar vulnerabilities exist in competing models and said the intervention could establish a precedent for broad government oversight of AI development. The move also highlights Washington's increasingly contradictory position. While restricting access to Anthropic's newest systems, intelligence agencies are reportedly continuing work on a classified contract that would allow the National Security Agency to use Anthropic technology for intelligence analysis and cybersecurity. The government increasingly views advanced AI as both a national security risk and a strategic national asset. The timing is particularly sensitive for Anthropic. Founded in 2021 by former OpenAI researchers, Anthropic has emerged as one of OpenAI's biggest challengers. Menlo Ventures estimated the company accounted for 40 percent of enterprise large language model spending in 2025, ahead of OpenAI's 27 percent. Anthropic has also reportedly filed confidentially for an initial public offering after a recent funding round valued the company at nearly $1 trillion. Analysts said prolonged restrictions on its flagship models could hurt user confidence, weigh on its valuation and provide an opening for rivals such as OpenAI, Google and Meta. The implications extend well beyond the United States. Many governments and corporations rely heavily on U.S.-developed AI models for business operations, research, cybersecurity and public services. If access can be abruptly revoked under national security rules, countries may accelerate efforts to build sovereign AI capabilities. South Korea is among those directly exposed. Anthropic launched Project Glasswing in April, a multinational cybersecurity initiative that now includes about 150 organizations using Claude Mythos Preview to identify software vulnerabilities. The project's first 50 participants collectively discovered more than 10,000 high- and critical-severity security flaws, demonstrating the growing role of frontier AI in defensive cybersecurity. Partners now span more than 15 countries and include operators of critical infrastructure across power, water, healthcare, communications and hardware industries. Anthropic estimates that, for many participants, a successful cyberattack on their systems could affect more than 100 million people. In South Korea, Samsung Electronics, SK hynix and SK Telecom were reportedly among organizations eligible to participate. The Ministry of Science and ICT also secured access through the Korea Internet & Security Agency. An official at the ministry said Seoul was assessing the implications of the U.S. measure. "We are in the process of confirming the facts regarding the U.S. government's export controls on Mythos and are currently discussing specific response measures," the official said. SK Telecom said it was also evaluating the situation. "We have been communicating with Anthropic since the U.S. government's measure and are working to understand the situation," a company official said. The episode is likely to intensify calls for South Korea to strengthen domestic AI security capabilities and accelerate efforts to build independent AI infrastructure. Critics also warn that broad restrictions on foreign nationals could undermine trust in U.S. AI companies and ultimately weaken an industry that depends heavily on global talent. The Anthropic case may therefore represent something larger than a dispute over one AI model. It could mark the moment Washington shifted from controlling the hardware that powers artificial intelligence to controlling the intelligence itself. 2026-06-15 16:57:28 -
U.S.-Iran war nears formal end with June 19 signing SEOUL, June 15 (AJP) - The United States and Iran reached an agreement on Sunday to sign a peace deal on Friday aimed at ending a monthslong war that has killed thousands and rattled the global economy. "The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete," President Donald Trump said in a social media post. Iran's Supreme National Security Council also confirmed in a statement that Tehran had finalized a memorandum of understanding with Washington. Below is a timeline of key developments, from the outbreak of the conflict to the breakthrough agreement. 2026-06-15 14:59:53 -
UAE sends aircraft for early Cheongung-II delivery SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - The United Arab Emirates has sent military transport aircraft to South Korea to secure early delivery of Korean-made Cheongung-II missile defense systems, as the Middle East war disrupts key maritime routes, defense sources said Friday. According to military and defense industry sources, the UAE has been dispatching several C-17 transport aircraft to an air base in Daegu since earlier this week to carry Cheongung-II batteries and interceptor missiles. One C-17 aircraft was seen parked on the runway at the Daegu air base on Friday. A total of eight UAE transport aircraft are expected to be used for the shipment, according to sources. Cheongung-II batteries and interceptor missiles are normally transported to the UAE by sea. But the maritime route has been disrupted as the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively blocked following the outbreak of the Iran war, prompting Abu Dhabi to use air transport instead. The UAE, which urgently needs to secure the missile defense system, is believed to have sent its own Air Force transport aircraft to bring the batteries and interceptors directly from South Korea. A Cheongung-II battery consists of four launcher vehicles, each equipped with eight launch tubes, along with a multifunction radar and an engagement control center, and it is being delivered this time is expected to arrive about six months earlier than the original delivery schedule. It is the first time in about three months that UAE transport aircraft have been spotted at the Daegu air base. The UAE signed a contract in 2022 with South Korea’s LIG Defense & Aerospace, Hanwha Systems and Hanwha Aerospace to purchase 10 Cheongung-II batteries. Two batteries have so far been deployed for operational use. When Iran launched missile attacks toward neighboring countries after being hit by U.S. and Israeli strikes, Cheongung-II systems deployed in the UAE were reportedly activated alongside other air defense systems, including the U.S.-made Patriot and Israel’s Arrow, to intercept Iranian missiles. Cheongung-II, also known as M-SAM II, is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system designed to intercept incoming ballistic missiles and aircraft. The system is considered one of South Korea’s key defense export items in the Middle East. 2026-06-12 17:32:09 -
SpaceX IPO fever meets Starlink's reality check in Asia SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - SpaceX's record-shattering market debut is drawing fresh attention to Starlink, its satellite internet business, as investors look beyond rockets and Mars ambitions to identify the company's most important source of revenue. While SpaceX is best known for reusable rockets and the Starship program, analysts increasingly view Starlink as the company's financial engine. The low-Earth orbit satellite internet network has become SpaceX's largest business segment by revenue and one of its few consistently profitable operations. According to reports citing CNBC, Starlink's subscriber base has more than doubled over the past year to about 10.3 million users. Reuters reported that Starlink generated roughly 60 percent of SpaceX's $18.67 billion in revenue last year, underscoring why the satellite unit sits at the center of investor expectations following the company's highly anticipated IPO. Yet Starlink's global expansion is also exposing a reality often overshadowed by SpaceX's technological achievements. Launching satellites may be global. Selling internet access remains intensely local. From South Korea to India, Starlink is encountering a patchwork of telecom regulations, national security concerns and entrenched market structures that suggest growth may not be as straightforward as subscriber figures imply. South Korea offers a telling example. Starlink began commercial service in the country last December, but it has yet to show signs of becoming a meaningful alternative to existing broadband and mobile networks. One reason is simple: South Korea already possesses one of the world's most advanced terrestrial communications infrastructures. For most households, fiber-optic broadband and nationwide 5G services are cheaper, faster and easier to use than a satellite-based connection requiring dedicated equipment. Starlink's residential plan in Korea launched at 87,000 won ($57) per month, while customers must also purchase a standard terminal kit priced at 550,000 won. By comparison, major Korean broadband providers typically offer residential internet plans at around 22,000 won per month for 100 Mbps service, 33,000 won for 500 Mbps and 38,500 won for 1 Gbps under long-term contracts. Routers are often bundled into service packages or rented for a small monthly fee. The economics make it difficult for Starlink to compete directly in the mass consumer market. Some industry observers also question whether satellite internet can gain significant traction in a country where network coverage is already extensive. "In Korea, people can use mobile data even on mountaintops," one telecommunications industry official said. "Unlike the United States, Korea does not have large coverage gaps, so there are questions about how much satellite internet is really needed here." Instead, Starlink's more realistic opportunity in Korea appears to lie in business-to-business applications, particularly for ships, aircraft, offshore facilities, remote industrial sites and emergency communications networks where terrestrial infrastructure is unavailable or unreliable. Recognizing that reality, local operators such as SK Telink and KT SAT have largely positioned themselves as partners rather than direct competitors, using Starlink's network to expand satellite services for maritime and aviation customers. The challenge extends well beyond Korea. Astrome Technologies, an Indian satellite and wireless systems startup backed by South Korean venture capital firms in its early stages, argues that the industry's future will increasingly be shaped by national strategic interests as much as by technological capability. "With geopolitical tensions rising, every country now wants sovereign technological capabilities, especially in satellite communications," Astrome President Venkatesh Kumaran told AJP. India illustrates that concern vividly. Authorities have reportedly delayed final approvals for Starlink's commercial launch because of national security concerns. According to Bloomberg, agencies under India's Ministry of Home Affairs have withheld the clearances required for Starlink's operations, citing concerns that satellite terminals could be used during military conflicts or geopolitical crises. Reports that Starlink terminals were used in Iran despite the absence of a commercial license appear to have heightened concerns in New Delhi over whether India could maintain effective control over a foreign-operated communications network during periods of heightened tension. The Indian case highlights a broader challenge facing Starlink worldwide. Satellite internet is not merely another telecommunications service. During wars, natural disasters or political emergencies, it can become critical infrastructure with strategic and military significance. Low-Earth orbit satellite networks are particularly valuable because they do not depend entirely on cell towers, fiber-optic cables or fixed ground stations that can be damaged, disrupted or destroyed during conflicts. But that same advantage also fuels regulatory caution. If Starlink can sustain communications during one conflict, governments naturally ask whether the same capability could operate beyond their direct control during a future crisis. For investors captivated by SpaceX's blockbuster debut, that may be the most important reality check. The next phase of Starlink's growth will not be determined solely by how many satellites SpaceX can place in orbit. It will depend just as much on how many governments are willing to trust a foreign-owned communications network when national security is at stake. That challenge may prove far more difficult than reaching space. 2026-06-12 16:29:55 -
Hanwha Ocean virtually wins $5 bln KDDX destroyer bid SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - Hanwha Ocean has virtually been selected as the preferred bidder for South Korea’s next-generation destroyer project, industry sources said Thursday, beating rival HD Hyundai Heavy Industries by less than one point in a closely watched competition. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration, or DAPA, completed its evaluation of proposals for the detailed design and construction of the lead ship for the Korean Destroyer Next Generation, or KDDX, and notified Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries of the result later in the day, according to defense industry sources. Hanwha Ocean reportedly beat HD Hyundai Heavy Industries by just 0.5867 points. The KDDX project, worth about 7.8 trillion won ($5.1 billion), calls for building six 6,000-ton-class Korean Aegis destroyers by 2030. The program has been considered one of South Korea’s most important naval acquisition projects, aimed at strengthening the Navy’s air defense and maritime combat capabilities with domestically developed systems. With the preferred bidder status, Hanwha Ocean is expected to enter talks with DAPA to proceed with the detailed design and lead ship construction. However, the schedule could face further delays if HD Hyundai Heavy Industries files an objection or pursues additional legal action. The competition has been marred by years of disputes between the two shipbuilders over design rights, security penalties and allegations of military secrets leakage. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries previously filed an injunction, claiming that 14 out of 170 basic design data items attached to a request for proposals distributed by DAPA to Hanwha Ocean in March contained trade secrets. The company appears to have lost ground in the evaluation due to the security penalty related to a military secrets leakage case. Nine HD Hyundai Heavy Industries employees were indicted for secretly photographing and sharing military secrets, including KDDX concept design materials prepared by Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, which was later acquired by Hanwha Ocean. Eight were convicted in November 2022 and one in December 2023. The KDDX program has been delayed for nearly two years due to disputes over the selection process and the long-running feud between the two companies. Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering handled the concept design before being acquired by Hanwha Ocean, while HD Hyundai Heavy Industries carried out the basic design. Shares of Hanwha Ocean closed at 112,700 won on Friday, up 8,200 won, or 7.85 percent, from a day earlier. 2026-06-12 16:01:32 -
S. Korea, US reaffirm goal of NK denuclearization at nuclear consultative talks SEOUL, June 12 (AJP) - South Korea and the United States reaffirmed their shared goal of North Korea’s denuclearization during high-level nuclear deterrence talks in Seoul on Thursday, Seoul’s Defense Ministry said, amid growing concerns that the international focus on Pyongyang’s denuclearization is weakening. The two allies held the sixth session of the Nuclear Consultative Group, or NCG, a bilateral body launched in 2023 to strengthen U.S. extended deterrence against North Korea’s nuclear threats. The meeting was co-chaired by Kim Hong-cheol, South Korea’s deputy minister for national defense policy, and Robert Soofer, U.S. deputy assistant secretary for nuclear deterrence and response to weapons of mass destruction. “South Korea and the United States reaffirmed their shared goal of the denuclearization of North Korea,” a joint statement said. “The United States reaffirmed its commitment to provide extended deterrence to South Korea by using the full range of U.S. capabilities, including nuclear capabilities.” The explicit reference to North Korea’s denuclearization drew attention, as recent regional diplomacy has raised questions over whether the goal is losing traction. China did not mention North Korea’s denuclearization during a recent summit with Pyongyang, while the joint statement issued after the previous NCG session in Washington in December did not mention North Korea or denuclearization. A Defense Ministry official said the two allies “reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.” The U.S. also included similar language in a statement after its Extended Deterrence Dialogue with Japan held earlier this week, saying the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea. During Thursday’s meeting, the two sides also reviewed progress in developing conventional-nuclear integration, or CNI, a concept under which South Korea’s advanced conventional forces would support U.S.-led nuclear operations in response to North Korean nuclear threats. The NCG delegations also visited a related South Korean military unit to review Seoul’s advanced conventional capabilities, according to officials. The effort to further integrate U.S. nuclear capabilities with South Korea’s conventional forces is seen as important for maintaining the credibility of Washington’s nuclear umbrella, especially as Seoul and Washington continue discussions on the future transfer of wartime operational control from the U.S. to South Korea. 2026-06-12 09:52:11