As U.S. military operations against Iran continue, alarming reports indicate that the stockpile of Patriot missiles, a key air defense system, has fallen to below 1,700, half of its previous levels. Additionally, the stock of THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) systems is reported to be over 80% depleted, prompting U.S. military authorities to explore exit strategies and conduct emergency stock assessments.
Given the production capacity of the U.S. defense industry, it is projected that it will take at least 2 to 3 years to replenish the depleted weapons.
The U.S. Department of Defense's redeployment of surveillance and air defense assets to the Middle East has created a significant gap in the air defense network of U.S. Forces Korea, which is essential for countering North Korea's nuclear and missile threats alongside South Korea's Cheongung-II systems.
Concerns are rising that this is not merely a shortage of weapons but could have lasting implications for security on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. North Korea has been escalating missile tests, taking advantage of the air defense gap.
Moreover, geopolitical uncertainties in Northeast Asia are deepening. The redeployment of U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups and Marine forces from the Indo-Pacific region to the Middle East is undermining conventional deterrence against China and Russia. There are growing fears that the depletion of missile stockpiles could provoke military actions from China in the Taiwan Strait or strengthen ties among North Korea, China, and Russia.
As the U.S. global defense commitment faces physical limitations, skepticism is growing in South Korea and Japan regarding their defensive capabilities without nuclear arms, leading to increased support for independent nuclear armament.
Compounding the situation, a recent incident within the South Korean military saw soldiers assigned to guard duty using unloaded 'dummy' weapons in an effort to prevent accidental discharges, resulting in the dismissal of a commanding officer. This reflects a breakdown in basic military readiness amid a security crisis marked by dwindling defense commitments and weapon stockpiles.
The fundamentals and principles of national security lie in self-reliance. The depletion of U.S. weapon stockpiles and the complacency within the South Korean military starkly illustrate the urgent need for self-defense and the physical limitations of the South Korea-U.S. alliance. There has been a tendency to become complacent under the umbrella of U.S. extended deterrence and defense commitments.
Security cannot be addressed with reactive measures. A lukewarm and passive security response that relies on allies will not protect national interests in a rapidly changing situation. The government must not overlook the potential chain reactions in the South Korea-U.S. joint defense system and should strongly demand the U.S. provide clear alternative forces to fill the air defense gap created by the redeployment of U.S. troops.
It is crucial to thoroughly restore discipline within the military while decisively advancing the independent multi-layered missile defense system (KAMD) and accelerating the early mass production and deployment of Cheongung-II and L-SAM systems.
If the government and military authorities fail to demonstrate a clear and overwhelming response to the security crisis, public anxiety will inevitably grow. The government must urgently secure practical punitive deterrence capabilities against North Korea's missile provocations, moving beyond mere verbal warnings, and pursue strong and proactive security diplomacy to alleviate external uncertainties.
In the face of a fluid international situation and the limitations of alliances, the only path to safeguarding South Korea's national interests and the safety of its citizens is through a resolute national will and decisive action to ensure self-defense, rather than relying on external protection.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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