Following news that South Korea has successfully tested a Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM);

Mathew George, Ph.D., Aerospace & Defense Practice Head at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:

“South Korea has joined an elite league of nations to possess a SLBM, making it the eighth to officially do so. While the country has not officially confirmed the development, news agencies from the country suggest that the country was able to successfully launch the SLBM from an underwater barge with a range of 500km.

“It is a natural progression for South Korea to follow after limits on its missile program were removed by the Biden administration. The country is now in the process of developing its technologies to maturity.

“South Korea has not shied away from investing its own military and defense technologies, and has now emerged as a serious defense exporter. However, the development of SLBMs by South Korea will not result in a renewed arms race in the region. Also, the increased spending is not aimed solely to counter the advances made by them. At the most, a likely test launch from the North Koreans can be witnessed as a message to South Korea.

“South Korea’s Ministry of Defense has reiterated the official position of securing advanced military assets to ensure peace on the Korean Peninsula. We expect to see further reports of milestones in several programs presently under development in South Korea including those on autonomous unmanned systems and the KF-21 Boramae fighter aircraft.”