In the wake of the launch of a North Korean rocket over the weekend, and budget realignments at the Pentagon that have the United States walking away from many of its anti-ballistic missile programs, the South Korean government has announced that it will be taking a fresh look at an existing defense agreement with the United States that limit the range of operational missiles to 187 miles.

As reported Monday by Agence France Presse, South Korean Prime Minister Han Seung-Soo, in a speech given to parliament, said, “It is necessary for (South Korea) to review whether such restrictions are proper at this time.”  This statement opens the door to South Korea arming itself with longer-range missiles, capable of striking targets in all of North Korea.

North Korea, despite the apparent unreliability of the Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile, fields a substantive short- and medium-range missile corps capable of hitting targets anywhere within the borders of South Korea.

Given President Obama’s foray overtures into the territory of unilateral disarmament, and his pullback on the missile shield proposed by President George W. Bush as a means of deterring both Russian designs on Eastern Europe and the threat of a rogue launch from the Middle East or North Africa, it is predictable that South Korea would take steps to protect itself from a nuclear North Korea.  It was also predictable that by walking away from missile defense, America would alter the delicate stalemate between two nations that have been in a technical state of war since 1950. 

Furthermore, the lack of a credible deterrent against nuclear or conventional missile strikes from North Korea, may force South Korea to pursue its own nuclear program to maintain parity.  Because the strength gap between the two Korean nations is small compared to the monstrous advantage the United States hold over North Korea, it is not inconceivable that an arms race could develop.  Any arms race between North and South Korean could turn the peninsula into a whirlpool in which the United States, Russia and China already have their feet dipped.  Any sudden flashes of hostility would more likely to erupt into full-scale war, not less.

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A tip of the hat to our friends at Naval Open Source Intelligence.

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