AJU PRESS ASIA FIRST NEWS AGENCY

Journalist

Kim Hee-su
Kim Hee-su김희수
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
  • Koreas Arctic trial arrives Europe. Now come the return trip and viability
    Korea's Arctic trial arrives Europe. Now come the return trip and viability SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - South Korea's maiden container voyage testing Arctic waters has successfully arrived in Rotterdam, raising hopes that the Northern Sea Route could sharply shorten cargo voyages between Asia and Europe. The journey of the PanStar Acro is only halfway over, and the harder challenge is the return leg and whether the Arctic option is commercially viable. The 2,758-TEU container ship arrived in Rotterdam on Sunday, 22 days after departing Busan on Aug. 22. It reached its first European port, Felixstowe in Britain, on Saturday after passing through Arctic waters without assistance from a Russian icebreaker. Rotterdam, Europe's largest port, serves as a major gateway for cargo moving into the continent, with extensive rail, road, inland waterway and feeder connections to European markets. The journey is South Korea's first trial of the Northern Sea Route using a container ship. The vessel left Busan carrying 737 TEUs of export cargo, including chemical products, used cars and auto parts, along with 100 TEUs of empty containers. The route between Busan and Rotterdam via the Arctic is about 13,000 kilometers, around 35 percent shorter than the roughly 20,000-kilometer voyage through the Suez Canal. The shorter route could reduce sailing times, fuel use and shipping costs while offering South Korea an alternative to traditional routes such as the Suez Canal. Yet the first voyage also underscored why distance alone cannot determine whether the Arctic can become a regular commercial shipping lane. According to Busan Ilbo, the PanStar Acro encountered dense drifting ice shortly after entering Arctic waters on Aug. 31. Near Wrangel Island in the Chukchi Sea, drifting ice blocked the vessel's path, forcing it to halt nighttime sailing and wait for conditions to improve. Strong winds and currents pushed the ship while it waited, leaving a zigzagging track on navigation data. The vessel later encountered winds of up to 40 knots in the Laptev Sea. Crew members reduced speed and repeatedly adjusted the ship's heading as ice was pushed toward the hull. The vessel also carried out evasive maneuvers to avoid harder chunks of ice near the Vilkitsky Strait. Despite those difficulties, no major accident or safety problem occurred during the outbound voyage. "There were no particular problems. Those were difficulties we had already expected, and the crew made the journey safely," one expert familiar with the trial told AJP. The expert said the return voyage should benefit from information gathered on the way to Europe, although Arctic conditions remain inherently unpredictable. "The sea is different because drifting ice is constantly moving and the weather is always changing," the expert said. "But since they have already traveled the route once, the return trip should be somewhat easier. They now have data on what conditions were like in each area." Conditions aboard also highlighted the human challenges of Arctic shipping. Busan Ilbo reported that access to outside decks was restricted because of freezing conditions and safety risks, while crew members faced prolonged periods confined inside the vessel as it crossed the Arctic. The PanStar Acro is scheduled to call at Gdansk, Poland, on Sept. 16 before heading back to South Korea via the Arctic route. It is expected to return to Busan on Oct. 12, completing its round-trip trial. The return journey could provide an even more important test. Seasonal freezing will have advanced by the time the vessel reenters Arctic waters, meaning the crew could face different ice and weather conditions from those experienced on the outbound voyage. "The conditions will be different on the way back," the same expert said. "On land, taking the same road back would not make much difference, but conditions at sea are constantly changing." Beyond the ice lies an equally difficult commercial question. South Korea is targeting the opening of a regular Arctic shipping route around 2030 and plans to conduct additional trial voyages to accumulate operational data and experience. "We are aiming to open a regular route in 2030," another expert familiar with South Korea's Arctic shipping plans told AJP. "We plan to continue conducting trial voyages every year, accumulating data and experience so that we can prepare step by step for the opening of a regular route." The expert said the government's immediate goal is not to establish a permanent Arctic service with one particular shipping company, but to determine whether the route itself is operationally and commercially viable. "There are shipping companies that still question whether the Arctic route can actually operate and whether it really makes economic sense," the expert said. "The idea is to show that it can actually be sailed in a little over 20 days." "The goal at this stage is not to have one shipping company operate the route regularly. The purpose of the trial voyages is to accumulate data and verify the route's economic feasibility and operational viability," the expert added. The question of commercial viability remains unresolved. While the Arctic route can significantly cut sailing distance compared with the Suez Canal, its competitiveness will ultimately depend on fuel savings, insurance premiums, cargo volumes, schedule reliability and the limited seasonal navigation window. "If the sailing time is shorter, fuel costs are lower and there are no major safety problems, then from a purely market perspective it has clear advantages," the expert said. "But there are international variables," the expert added, citing uncertainty surrounding Russia and Western sanctions as factors that continue to make shipping companies cautious. Sanctions on Russia are particularly important because much of the Northern Sea Route runs along Russia's Arctic coastline. The PanStar Acro crossed the route without using a Russian icebreaker, limiting the need for financial transactions involving Russian services. "If there is a financial transaction with the Russian side, there is a risk of becoming caught up in secondary sanctions," the first expert said. "To avoid that risk, you have to avoid financial transactions with Russia, and that means not using an icebreaker unless it is necessary," the expert said. "If the ice is too thick for a ship to pass on its own, an icebreaker has to break the ice and open the route. Naturally, that costs money." The vessel was able to make the outbound voyage without one largely because it sailed when Arctic sea ice was near its seasonal minimum. "Right now, this is the period when the ice has melted the most," the expert said. "The ship finds a route through the open water and sails without using an icebreaker." The successful outbound trip therefore does not by itself establish that the route can operate reliably over a longer shipping season. Commercial viability will also depend on whether ships can secure sufficient cargo in both directions, maintain predictable schedules despite rapidly changing ice conditions and absorb higher insurance and specialized operating costs. The PanStar Acro has demonstrated that a conventional South Korean container ship can cross the Northern Sea Route in summer without icebreaker assistance and reach northern Europe in just over three weeks. The remaining journey will help answer the harder question facing Seoul as it looks toward 2030 — not whether the Arctic route can be sailed, but whether it can become a reliable and commercially sustainable alternative to the traditional route through the Suez Canal. The bigger question is whether it can prove itself a shipping route worth using. AJP Takeaways - PanStar Acro reached Rotterdam in 22 days via the Northern Sea Route, completing South Korea’s first Arctic container trial to Europe. - The return voyage will test tougher seasonal ice and weather conditions as the ship heads back to Busan. - Seoul aims for a regular Arctic route around 2030, but commercial viability, sanctions, insurance and cargo demand remain key hurdles. 2026-09-14 17:43:55
  • Korea seeks new marine construction technologies for field trials
    Korea seeks new marine construction technologies for field trials SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - South Korea will open applications for new marine construction technologies to be tested at actual project sites, aiming to help promising technologies prove their performance and expand their use in the field. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Monday it will accept applications from Sept. 15 through Nov. 13 for new domestic technologies and patents to receive support under its trial construction program. The program gives technologies that have not yet been used in the field an opportunity to be applied to part of a construction project, with the government providing both the test site and related costs. The ministry has operated the program since 2018 to address difficulties faced by new technologies and patented methods that have strong technical potential but lack opportunities to demonstrate their performance at actual construction sites. This year's applicants will first undergo a review process to select preliminary candidates. Regional oceans and fisheries offices will then assess projects where the technologies could be applied before choosing the final recipients of trial construction support. Supported technologies include wave-dissipating blocks, coastal erosion control systems, breakwater structures and ground improvement methods. Completed projects include a new quay construction method at Mokpo North Port, underwater blocks designed to prevent sand loss along the coast, and a photocatalyst-based system aimed at reducing fine dust at Incheon Port. "We hope this will encourage further technology development and help advance technological capabilities in the marine and fisheries construction sector," Kong Doo-pyo, director general for ports at the ministry, said. AJP Takeaways - South Korea is seeking new marine construction technologies for field trials at actual project sites. - The program supports technologies and patents that need real-world testing before wider commercial use. - Supported projects include coastal erosion control, breakwater construction and new port technologies. 2026-09-14 17:20:04
  • S. Korea, U.S. hold defense talks in Busan amid Hormuz pressure
    S. Korea, U.S. hold defense talks in Busan amid Hormuz pressure SEOUL, September 14 (AJP) - South Korea and the United States will hold high-level defense talks in Busan this week amid growing pressure from Washington for a South Korean contribution to U.S. operations in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the defense ministry in Seoul Monday. The 29th Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue, or KIDD, will take place in the southeastern port city from Wednesday through Friday, the Ministry of National Defense said. Kim Hong-cheol, director general for defense policy at the South Korean defense ministry, and George LeMoore, the U.S. assistant secretary of war for East Asia, will represent Seoul and Washington, respectively. Their delegations will include senior defense and foreign affairs officials from both countries. “The two sides plan to discuss a wide range of alliance security issues, including the transition of wartime operational control, combined defense posture and shipbuilding cooperation,” the ministry said. Launched in 2011, the KIDD is a senior-level forum for regular defense and security talks between Seoul and Washington. The meeting is generally held once or twice a year, alternating between the two countries. The upcoming session comes about four months after the 28th KIDD was held in Washington in May. One of the most closely watched issues will be a possible South Korean military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz. The United States has continued to press allies, including South Korea, for contributions to security operations in the region since the outbreak of war with Iran earlier this year. Seoul has stepped up its review by sending an assessment team to the United Arab Emirates to examine military facilities and operational conditions related to a possible deployment. The government team last week reviewed potential port calls and local conditions for maintenance, logistics and operational support. The United States is reportedly hoping South Korea could make a deployment before the U.S. midterm elections in November. Seoul, however, has maintained that no final decision has been made. The KIDD is expected to provide a forum for the two sides to discuss more detailed questions, including the timing and size of any deployment, its mission and the composition of participating forces. The transfer of wartime operational control, or OPCON, is another expected agenda item. Seoul aims to reach an agreement with Washington on a target year for the OPCON transition at the annual Security Consultative Meeting, or SCM, between the two countries’ defense chiefs in November. The Busan meeting will also mark the first time the KIDD has been held outside Seoul or Washington. The defense ministry said Busan was chosen to highlight bilateral interest in shipbuilding cooperation and South Korea’s industrial capabilities. U.S. officials attending the meeting are also expected to visit South Korean shipyards during their stay. HD Hyundai Heavy Industries operates a major shipyard in Ulsan, while Hanwha Ocean runs a shipyard in Geoje, both near Busan. AJP Takeaways - South Korea and the U.S. will hold high-level defense talks in Busan from Wednesday to Friday. - A possible South Korean deployment to the Strait of Hormuz is expected to be a key issue. - The talks will also cover OPCON transfer, combined defense posture and shipbuilding cooperation. 2026-09-14 10:37:30
  • Chunmoo moves to the arms mainstream on the Balkan front
    Chunmoo moves to the arms mainstream on the Balkan front SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - Croatia’s decision to buy 18 South Korean K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers on top of its earlier order of HIMARS from the United States reflects a broader recalibration in the Western Balkans, where military modernization has accelerated since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Hanwha Aerospace signed a 411.8 million euro ($478 million) contract with the Croatian Ministry of Defence on Thursday to supply 18 Chunmoo launchers, ammunition carriers, fire direction command vehicles and integrated logistics support. The package includes multiple types of precision-guided rockets for short-, medium- and long-range missions, as well as training and lifecycle support. Deliveries are scheduled to continue through 2030. The deal makes Croatia the fourth European country to select Chunmoo after Poland, Estonia and Norway, further expanding the South Korean system’s presence in a European market seeking to rebuild artillery and long-range strike capabilities. The Croatian government approved the HIMARS procurement in December 2024 after receiving a U.S. letter of offer and acceptance worth about $290 million before value-added tax. The U.S. State Department had earlier approved a possible package of eight launchers and associated weapons and support worth up to $390 million. “Chunmoo complements the contracted HIMARS systems, increases the Croatian Armed Forces’ range and firepower, diversifies supply routes and further strengthens deterrence,” Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said. The decision suggests that Zagreb does not see Chunmoo simply as a cheaper competitor to HIMARS, but as an additional layer in its long-range precision-strike arsenal. The procurement also sits within a broader military buildup in the Western Balkans that began well before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but has accelerated as the war reshaped European defense planning. Serbia emerged as the region’s early mover, stepping up modernization from around 2015 and investing in combat aircraft, air defense, armored vehicles, drones and electronic warfare. Unlike NATO members in the region, whose modernization is shaped largely by alliance requirements and interoperability, Belgrade has pursued a more autonomous strategy built around diversified suppliers, including Russia, China, France and Israel. Croatia has followed a different path. As a NATO and European Union member, its modernization remains anchored in Western systems and alliance standards, but force planning has also increasingly reflected Serbia’s expanding air, missile and armored capabilities. Zagreb has acquired Rafale fighters, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Black Hawk helicopters and has ordered Leopard two tanks, Bayraktar drones and HIMARS alongside Chunmoo. The result is not an imminent return to the conflicts of the 1990s, but an increasingly complex regional security environment in which modernization by one state can alter the calculations of its neighbors. For Croatia, operating both HIMARS and Chunmoo therefore adds not only firepower but also flexibility and redundancy as the regional military balance shifts. Chunmoo can carry two rocket pods simultaneously and can load different types of precision-guided munitions on the same launcher, allowing commanders to tailor weapons to different targets and ranges. Hanwha describes the system as capable of integrating a family of precision-guided rockets with national command-and-control systems. HIMARS, by comparison, carries a single pod containing six Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System rockets, or other compatible longer-range missiles depending on configuration. Croatia’s defense ministry has cited NATO compatibility, price, firepower and a relatively short delivery schedule among the reasons for choosing Chunmoo, with the full package expected to be delivered within 24 to 36 months. “It was chosen because it is compatible with NATO standards, affordable, much more lethal and meets all our needs,” Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anušić said in an interview with Croatian public broadcaster HRT. The ability to deliver weapons quickly has become an increasingly important factor in Europe, where countries are racing to rebuild inventories and expand long-range strike capacity following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Hanwha’s ability to supply systems quickly is becoming a competitive advantage as Europe’s rearmament demand translates into actual force acquisition,” Kang Tae-ho, a defense analyst at DS Investment & Securities, said. Europe’s experience since the war in Ukraine has also highlighted the importance of securing access to ammunition and reducing dependence on overseas supply chains. DS Investment & Securities pointed to Hanwha’s push with Poland’s WB Group to establish local production of 80-kilometer-class guided rockets as another factor strengthening Chunmoo’s position in Europe. Hanwha and WB Group agreed in 2024 to pursue a joint venture for local production of CGR-80 guided missiles in Poland. Hanwha has already sold Poland 290 Chunmoo launchers along with 80-kilometer and 290-kilometer-range guided missiles. “Securing an ammunition production base in Europe is an important factor in easing concerns over ammunition sovereignty and strengthening Chunmoo’s export competitiveness,” Kang said. According to Army Recognition, citing Euractiv, the United States blocked the integration of U.S.-made GMLRS rockets into France’s planned Foudre and Thundart artillery systems. The decision came as France faces a looming gap in rocket artillery capability, with its existing launcher fleet expected to shrink to just nine operational systems before their retirement between 2027 and 2030. Without access to U.S.-made guided rockets, the two French programs could face higher development risks, costs and delays. It shows that access to widely used U.S. munitions does not necessarily mean foreign-developed launchers can integrate them. U.S. approval remains necessary for the final configuration and sale of HIMARS-related weapons, giving Washington a degree of control over who can use the GMLRS ammunition ecosystem and on which launch platforms. Zagreb is not only expanding its firepower but also avoiding dependence on a single launcher and ammunition ecosystem by operating both HIMARS and Chunmoo. The Croatian Chunmoo package includes a separate contract with Poland’s WB Electronics for the delivery, installation and integration of a command-and-control system, while Hanwha provides the launchers and rocket ammunition. An Eugene Investment & Securities report described the emerging structure as one linking Hanwha’s launchers and ammunition with Poland’s WB command-and-control technology and Croatian industrial cooperation. “Chunmoo is expanding, like the K9, into a common artillery platform and supply chain in Europe,” Eugene analyst Yang Seung-yoon said. The development could be significant for Hanwha’s next stage of expansion in Europe. Until recently, competition between Chunmoo and HIMARS was often framed as a contest in which governments would choose one system over the other. Croatia shows that the market may not necessarily work that way. For countries facing both a deteriorating security environment and growing concerns about ammunition availability, supplier concentration and delivery times, buying two systems can itself become part of the deterrence strategy. DS Investment & Securities sees potential for further Chunmoo sales not only in countries looking to replace aging Soviet-era multiple rocket launchers, such as Romania and Bulgaria, but also among European states already pursuing HIMARS, including Lithuania, Latvia and Sweden. AJP Takeaways - Croatia is buying 18 Chunmoo launchers despite already ordering HIMARS. - Chunmoo offers faster delivery, flexible firepower and a second ammunition supply chain. - The deal expands Hanwha Aerospace’s foothold in Europe as demand for long-range fires grows. 2026-09-11 16:38:09
  • South Korea begins construction of new Arctic research icebreaker
    South Korea begins construction of new Arctic research icebreaker SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - South Korea has begun construction of a next-generation icebreaking research vessel designed to expand the country’s access to the high Arctic and strengthen research capabilities along emerging Arctic shipping routes. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Friday that a keel-laying ceremony for the new vessel was being held at Hanwha Ocean’s Geoje shipyard in South Gyeongsang Province, with around 40 officials from the ministry, Korea Polar Research Institute, Korean Register and Hanwha Ocean attending. The new icebreaker is scheduled for completion in 2029 and is expected to officially begin Arctic research operations in 2030. The ship will become South Korea’s second icebreaking research vessel after the Araon, which entered service in 2009. The government has said relying on the Araon alone has limited available research time because of lengthy voyages and its restricted ability to reach Arctic waters above 80 degrees north latitude. The ministry and Hanwha Ocean signed a construction contract in July last year and have since carried out design work and equipment procurement. The new vessel will have about 50 percent greater icebreaking capability than the Araon, allowing it to break through ice up to 1.5 meters thick while traveling at 3 knots, compared with the Araon’s 1-meter capability at the same speed. It will also be designed to operate in temperatures as low as minus 45 degrees Celsius, 10 degrees colder than the Araon’s rating. The icebreaker will conduct research on sea ice conditions needed for safe navigation along Arctic shipping routes, as well as Arctic fishery resources and seabed geology. It will use a dual-fuel system capable of running on liquefied natural gas and marine gas oil to reduce carbon emissions, while detachable modular research facilities are expected to make more efficient use of onboard research space. At roughly 16,560 gross tons, the new vessel will be more than twice the size of the 7,507-ton Araon. It will measure 140.8 meters long and 25 meters wide and accommodate up to 100 people, including 34 crew members and 66 researchers. It will have a cruising speed of 13 knots and be capable of operating for at least 75 days without resupply. Once the vessel enters service, it will focus primarily on Arctic research, while the Araon will shift its focus toward Antarctica. The ministry expects the combined number of annual research voyage days in the Arctic and Antarctic to increase from about 85 days to around 270 days, more than tripling current capacity. “The construction of the next-generation icebreaking research vessel is an important first step toward accumulating scientific research data in preparation for the coming era of Arctic shipping routes and becoming a leading country in polar research,” Seo Jeong-ho, head of the ministry’s Ocean Policy Office, said. “We will continue to provide the necessary support to ensure that the construction project proceeds without disruption,” he said. AJP Takeaways - South Korea has begun construction of a new Arctic research icebreaker, with completion targeted for 2029 and operations from 2030. - The vessel will have 50% stronger icebreaking capability than the Araon and operate in ice up to 1.5 meters thick. - The new icebreaker will expand South Korea’s Arctic research on shipping routes, sea ice, fisheries and seabed geology. 2026-09-11 11:29:21
  • Coast Guard rewards officers for Chinese fishing boat crackdown
    Coast Guard rewards officers for Chinese fishing boat crackdown SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - The Korea Coast Guard said Friday it awarded a record amount in bonuses to officers involved in a crackdown on illegal Chinese fishing near the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea. A total of 18 million won ($13,348) was awarded to six officers who helped seize eight Chinese fishing vessels during a government-wide joint operation near Yeonpyeong Island on Aug. 11. The six officers, members of the West Sea Five Islands Special Guard Unit under the Central Regional Coast Guard, were recognized for their role in the operation, which also resulted in 24 other Chinese vessels being expelled from the area. During the operation, authorities seized eight Chinese fishing vessels and expelled 24 others from the area. Foreign fishing vessels are prohibited from operating in waters near the NLL, the de facto maritime border between South and North Korea in the Yellow Sea. But Chinese vessels frequently move back and forth across the NLL to fish illegally, making enforcement difficult. Unlike conventional crackdowns in which Coast Guard units chase vessels caught fishing illegally, the officers targeted Chinese boats anchored without authorization and carried out preemptive enforcement in coordination with other government agencies. The operation came amid a broader government push to curb persistent illegal Chinese fishing near the NLL. Seoul has also sought greater cooperation from Beijing. At a Korea-China fisheries enforcement meeting held in Dalian in June, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation against illegal fishing, including reviewing tougher enforcement rules and conducting joint patrols. South Korea also urged China to strengthen inspections at its own ports and monitoring of vessels suspected of illegal operations. The 18 million won award is the largest handed out since the Coast Guard introduced its special performance bonus program this year. “I hope clear rewards for strong performance will boost the pride of employees who quietly dedicate themselves to their duties and contribute to protecting public safety,” acting Korea Coast Guard Commissioner General Jang In-sik said. AJP Takeaways - The Korea Coast Guard awarded a record 18 million won to six officers for a crackdown on illegal Chinese fishing near the NLL. - The Aug. 11 operation near Yeonpyeong Island seized eight Chinese fishing vessels and expelled 24 others. - Seoul is also strengthening enforcement and cooperation with Beijing to curb illegal fishing in the Yellow Sea. 2026-09-11 11:05:01
  • Hanwha lands Chunmoo deal in Croatia, widening K-defense footprint in Europe
    Hanwha lands Chunmoo deal in Croatia, widening K-defense footprint in Europe SEOUL, September 11 (AJP) - South Korea's K-defense drive is spreading beyond its Polish beachhead into a broader European network, with Hanwha Aerospace adding Croatia as the fourth European operator of its Chunmoo multiple launch rocket system in a 410 million euro ($477 million) deal. Hanwha Aerospace signed the contract Thursday to supply 18 Chunmoo systems to Croatia, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). The deal is worth about 640 billion won. Croatia follows Poland, Estonia and Norway in adopting the South Korean rocket artillery system, extending Hanwha's reach across European militaries accelerating weapons procurement and seeking alternatives to traditional U.S. and European suppliers. The contract also marks the first major arms deal between South Korea and Croatia and is intended to open cooperation beyond the initial weapons sale, including industrial partnerships and military logistics support, DAPA said. Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic attended the signing ceremony alongside government and Hanwha officials. "The Chunmoo system will significantly boost Croatia's defense capability and serve as an opportunity to expand and further deepen cooperation between our two countries in the defense and security domains," Ahn said. Ahn separately signed a memorandum of understanding on defense cooperation with Croatian Defense Minister Ivan Anusic. The agreement establishes a framework for regular working-level dialogue and broader bilateral defense ties, according to Seoul's Defense Ministry. The Croatia order adds to a wider Korean push to turn recent weapons exports into longer-term defense partnerships across Europe. Chunmoo has picked up three European orders this year alone. Norway signed a $922 million deal for 16 launchers in January, Estonia ordered three more in May only five months after its initial six-unit purchase, and Croatia followed Thursday with 18 launchers worth about 640 billion won. The three contracts bring Chunmoo orders signed in Europe this year to 37 launchers. Poland remains the system's largest European customer, with agreements covering 290 Homar-K launchers, the Polish variant of Chunmoo. Hanwha also signed a roughly $4 billion contract in December 2025 to supply and eventually produce thousands of 80-kilometer CGR-080 guided rockets in Poland. At Poland's MSPO 2026 defense exhibition this week, DAPA chief Lee Yong-cheol met senior procurement officials from Poland and Estonia and discussed expanding cooperation into joint research, joint production and follow-on logistics support, rather than limiting ties to equipment sales. DAPA described Poland as a "strategic cooperation country" for Korean defense companies seeking wider access to European markets. The agency also brought eight smaller Korean defense companies into a joint Korea pavilion at MSPO, alongside individual booths run by major companies including Hanwha Group, Hyundai Rotem and Korea Aerospace Industries. A total of 16 Korean companies were represented around the pavilion, underscoring the effort to build an industry-wide European presence rather than rely on a handful of headline weapons contracts. Poland has been the cornerstone of that expansion, emerging as one of the biggest buyers of Korean weapons after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Large Polish orders for K2 tanks, K9 self-propelled howitzers, FA-50 light combat aircraft and Chunmoo launchers gave Korean manufacturers their first large-scale foothold in Europe. The subsequent entry of Chunmoo into Estonia, Norway and now Croatia suggests that foothold is beginning to broaden. For Hanwha, the European expansion is particularly important because rocket artillery systems generate business well beyond the initial launcher sale. Ammunition replenishment, maintenance, training, upgrades and potentially local production can extend defense relationships for decades. Chunmoo was originally developed as a central component of South Korea's artillery forces, designed in large part to counter North Korea's extensive long-range artillery and multiple rocket launcher arsenal. The system can fire different types of guided rockets and strike targets at ranges of up to 80 kilometers with the ammunition cited by DAPA, giving forces both precision-strike and wider-area fire capabilities. Croatia's order is comparatively modest next to Poland's massive Korean arms purchases, but its significance lies elsewhere as it adds another European NATO member incorporating a Korean weapons platform into its force structure. AJP Takeaways - Hanwha Aerospace signed a 640 billion won ($477 million) deal to supply 18 Chunmoo launchers to Croatia, making it the fourth European operator after Poland, Estonia and Norway. - Chunmoo has secured three European contracts this year alone — 16 launchers for Norway in January, three additional units for Estonia in May and 18 for Croatia in September, totaling 37 launchers. - The widening customer base shows South Korea’s rocket artillery exports spreading beyond Poland into a broader NATO network, with Seoul seeking follow-on business in ammunition, logistics support, joint production and industrial cooperation. 2026-09-11 07:59:00
  • Hanwha Systems unveils space AI solution at Poland defense expo
    Hanwha Systems unveils space AI solution at Poland defense expo SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - Hanwha Systems has unveiled an artificial intelligence-powered satellite imagery analysis solution overseas for the first time, as the South Korean defense company seeks to expand its presence in the global space and defense markets. The company said Thursday it introduced its "Space AI Solution" at MSPO 2026, a major defense exhibition held in Kielce, Poland, on Wednesday. During the launch event, Hanwha demonstrated the system analyzing imagery of Eastern Europe captured by satellites currently in operation, rather than using simulated data. The solution uses AI to analyze imagery transmitted from various satellites and extract key intelligence, automatically performing tasks such as object detection, pattern analysis and anomaly detection to support faster decision-making by commanders and other users. A key feature is its ability to integrate the entire process from satellite image collection and AI-based data fusion to providing information for commanders' decisions. The system can be used to track troop movements and routes, while in disasters it can analyze changes to buildings and terrain to rapidly assess damage before and after an event. The system supports both electro-optical, or EO, imagery and synthetic aperture radar, or SAR, data. SAR satellites can capture imagery regardless of weather or daylight, but their radar images are harder to interpret. Hanwha said its AI can identify aircraft, ships and vehicles within seconds and combine SAR data with higher-resolution EO imagery. The technology is designed to support Hanwha's SAR satellite lineup, including a 0.15-meter very low Earth orbit satellite under development, and can link satellite reconnaissance with weapons systems such as the K9 howitzer and Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher. "By combining EO and SAR imagery, the Space AI Solution turns satellite data into immediately usable reconnaissance and tactical intelligence," a Hanwha Systems official said. "We aim to expand this into an integrated space-to-ground infrastructure and strengthen our presence in the global defense and space markets." AJP Takeaways - Hanwha Systems unveiled its AI-powered satellite imagery analysis solution at MSPO 2026 in Poland. - The system combines EO and SAR imagery to detect objects, track movements and support faster military decision-making. - Hanwha plans to link the technology with SAR satellites and weapons systems such as the K9 howitzer and Chunmoo launcher. 2026-09-10 15:20:05
  • South Korean team returns from UAE after assessing Hormuz deployment conditions
    South Korean team returns from UAE after assessing Hormuz deployment conditions SEOUL, September 10 (AJP) - A South Korean team sent to the United Arab Emirates to assess conditions for a possible military deployment to the Strait of Hormuz is set to return home Thursday, as Seoul weighs its response to mounting U.S. pressure for a military contribution. The team, which departed for the United Arab Emirates over the weekend, completed its assessment and is expected to return through Incheon International Airport, according to sources familiar with the matter. The delegation is understood to have inspected military bases and ports that could be used by South Korean forces, along with local conditions for maintenance, logistics and other operational support. The UAE, located close to the Strait of Hormuz, hosts Al Dhafra Air Base, one of the major U.S. military installations in the Middle East. With Seoul considering the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft as one of the most likely assets for a possible contribution, the team is believed to have examined conditions for operating and supporting the aircraft from facilities in the UAE. Officials from the Ministry of National Defense as well as working-level officials from the Foreign Ministry were reportedly part of the delegation. Under the Defense Ministry's guidelines governing overseas military deployments, a fact-finding team sent to a potential deployment area is required to prepare a report on its activities after returning and submit the findings to the National Security Council. That process, however, does not mean Seoul is moving immediately toward a decision to deploy forces. "The fact-finding team was dispatched to assess the regional situation and security conditions, and this assessment does not assume that an actual deployment will take place," a Defense Ministry official said earlier. If discussions advance, the issue could be raised at the NSC as early as next week, but the government continues to take a cautious approach. President Lee Jae Myung's return from a state visit to France could also help clarify the government's position on a possible deployment. The deliberations come as U.S. President Donald Trump has stepped up public pressure on South Korea over its level of contribution to U.S.-led efforts related to Iran and the Strait of Hormuz. In a Truth Social post on Aug. 16, Trump claimed he had asked Lee whether South Korea would join U.S. efforts to denuclearize Iran and received a "No thanks!" response. Requests from Washington for South Korean involvement in the Hormuz mission are understood to have increased through multiple diplomatic and defense channels following Trump's remarks. But the increased U.S. pressure has not necessarily pushed Seoul closer to deployment. The Defense Ministry has also rejected speculation that Washington asked Seoul to send forces before the U.S. midterm elections in November. A ministry official previously said reports that the United States had set a deadline for South Korea to deploy military assets to the Strait of Hormuz were "not true." The issue could surface again during upcoming high-level talks between the allies. South Korean and U.S. defense officials are discussing holding their second-half Korea-U.S. Integrated Defense Dialogue, or KIDD, in Busan next week. While a South Korean contribution to the Strait of Hormuz is not traditionally an alliance issue handled through the KIDD, the possibility that Washington could raise the matter during the talks cannot be ruled out. AJP Takeaways - South Korean team returns from UAE after assessing a possible Hormuz deployment. - Seoul is considering P-8A Poseidon aircraft, but no deployment decision has been made. - The issue could reach the NSC and next week’s Korea-U.S. defense talks. 2026-09-10 15:02:35
  • Seoul weighs coalition role in Hormuz amid U.S. pressure, Iran warnings
    Seoul weighs coalition role in Hormuz amid U.S. pressure, Iran warnings SEOUL, September 09 (AJP) - South Korea is keeping its options open on a possible military contribution to the Strait of Hormuz, but President Lee Jae Myung's talks in Paris risk sending the impression to Washington that Seoul is placing greater weight on a French-British multinational mission. The framework could offer Seoul a middle ground between mounting U.S. pressure for support and Iran's warnings against military involvement. “The broad direction for international cooperation has been set, but details are still under review and nothing has been decided,” a presidential official said Tuesday following Lee's summit with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. The official stressed that the discussion should not be interpreted as a decision to send South Korean forces to the region. Lee, however, made clear that Seoul sees stability in the strategic waterway as an important national interest. “South Korea and France will continue close cooperation to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and stabilize global supply chains,” Lee said after the summit. The presidential office said Lee approached the talks on the principle that South Korea's contribution should be determined based on national interests and public consensus. Macron raised the prospect of cooperation under a broader international framework. “The multinational mission is peaceful,” Macron said, adding that France and South Korea could cooperate once the necessary agreements are in place. France and Britain have been leading efforts to establish an independent, defensive multinational mission aimed at restoring safe navigation through Hormuz. South Korea has already backed that framework politically. It endorsed an April leaders' statement establishing the initiative and was among the countries supporting a subsequent multinational mission statement in May. Neither commitment, however, amounted to a decision to deploy South Korean forces or military assets. France has maintained a cautious line since the early months of the Iran war, supporting diplomatic efforts to end the conflict while keeping the proposed Hormuz mission separate from direct U.S. military operations against Tehran. Such stance has at times put Paris and London at odds with Washington, with Trump publicly criticizing NATO allies including France and Britain for failing to provide greater support for the U.S. war effort against Iran. Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in April co-hosted a Paris conference bringing together around 50 non-belligerent countries and backing a strictly defensive multinational mission once security conditions allowed. The proposed force was designed to protect commercial vessels, restore confidence among shipowners and insurers and conduct mine-clearing operations rather than take part in combat against Iran. Macron reiterated that approach at the G7 summit in June, describing the French-British initiative as “multinational, independent and defensive” and saying around 20 countries had expressed a firm commitment to contribute. France has said the mission could protect merchant shipping and support mine-clearing once conditions in the strait permit. The government recently sent a Defense Ministry fact-finding team to the United Arab Emirates to assess conditions in and around the strait, but the presidential office said the move was only “part of the review process” and did not presuppose a deployment. Asked whether the issue could be discussed at a National Security Council standing committee meeting on Sept. 17, the official said it was difficult to discuss a schedule because “nothing has been decided.” Seoul's caution comes as pressure intensifies from both Washington and Tehran. A White House official said Sunday that the United States was “still waiting” for South Korea to commit resources to the region, after U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly singled out Seoul over its reluctance to support U.S. efforts surrounding Hormuz. Trump has pressed countries heavily dependent on Middle Eastern energy, including South Korea and Japan, to contribute to securing the waterway since the war with Iran began on Feb. 28. Iran, meanwhile, has warned Seoul against military involvement. “Military presence or participation in operations in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz would inevitably be seen as directly supporting the aggressor,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said, warning of “serious consequences.” Iran’s judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei abruptly canceled a planned visit to Seoul next week, as South Korea weighs a possible Hormuz deployment. The reason was not officially disclosed. “We told them that the matter is under review and nothing has been decided,” the presidential official said. The competing pressure leaves the Lee administration with a difficult calculation: how far to support its U.S. ally and help secure a waterway vital to South Korea's energy supplies without becoming directly entangled in the Iran war. Defense experts say months of caution may have brought Seoul to the point where a limited contribution deserves serious consideration. “We have reached a point where it is time to consider a deployment,” Choi Ki-il, a professor of military studies at Sangji University and head of the Korea Defense Industry Research Institute, told AJP. Choi said any mission should focus on protecting South Korean vessels and crews and supporting freedom of navigation rather than taking part in direct combat against Iran. “Even if we deploy, our role should be limited to protecting our own ships,” Choi said. Possible assets reported in recent days have included P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, the Navy's 11,000-ton ROKS Soyang fast combat support ship and mine-clearing capabilities. The government has stressed that none has been selected. One potential middle ground would be participation in the French-British multinational mission rather than an independent South Korean operation. “If South Korea participates, it should not do so independently, but as part of a coalition force,” Kim Hong-yoo, a professor at Kyung Hee University and a policy committee member of the Korea Defense Industry Association, told AJP. Kim said such a framework could allow Seoul to take on logistics or other support functions rather than lead a separate Korean operation. He also argued that Washington's requests are difficult for Seoul to ignore because the United States, South Korea's treaty ally, is directly involved in the conflict. “For the government, this is a very difficult decision,” Kim said. Kim said an NSC discussion would become more relevant if the government decides to deploy forces, as Seoul would then have to determine which military assets could be spared without weakening its defense posture on the Korean Peninsula. For now, the presidential office is drawing a line between supporting international efforts to secure Hormuz and committing South Korean forces to them. Seoul's eventual choice will have to balance its U.S. alliance and the economic importance of keeping Hormuz open against military readiness on the Korean Peninsula, relations with Iran and domestic public opinion. AJP Takeaways - Seoul says no decision has been made on deploying military assets despite deeper talks with France and other partners. - French-British defensive mission offers potential middle ground between U.S. demands and Iran's warnings. - South Korea has already backed the multinational framework politically, leaving the scale and form of any operational contribution unresolved. 2026-09-09 17:58:49