Cheong Wa Dae: "Complete Lift of Solid Fuel Usage Restrictions for Space Launch Vehicles Starting Today" (Update)

Revision of ROK-US Missile Guidelines Allows Development and Production of Various Types of Space Launch Vehicles... "Military Reconnaissance Satellites Can Be Launched According to Our Needs"

[Asia Economy reporters Ryu Jeong-min and Son Seon-hee] The revision of the South Korea-U.S. missile guidelines has completely lifted the restrictions on the use of solid fuel for space launch vehicles. This revision is expected to free up the development and production of space launch vehicles, including military reconnaissance satellites.

Kim Hyun-jong, the 2nd Deputy Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House, announced at a Chuncheon press briefing on the 28th, "From today, July 28, 2020, we adopt the 2020 missile guideline revision that lifts the restrictions on the use of solid fuel for space launch vehicles."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Deputy Director Kim explained, "Since our government adopted the missile guidelines in 1979, South Korea has been under constraints that did not allow sufficient use of solid fuel for space launch vehicles," adding, "(From today) all companies and research institutes in South Korea, as well as all individuals with South Korean nationality, can research, develop, produce, and possess various types of space launch vehicles without any restrictions, including not only the existing liquid fuel but also solid fuel and hybrid types."

Previously, President Moon Jae-in instructed the Blue House National Security Office to contact the White House National Security Council (NSC) in October last year to resolve the issue of developing solid fuel launch vehicles, and after nine months of negotiations between South Korea and the U.S., the missile guidelines were revised.

Deputy Director Kim stated, "In the near future, we will have the capability to launch low Earth orbit (500 km to 2000 km) military reconnaissance satellites using solid fuel space launch vehicles developed by us, according to our needs," and added, "This means we will be able to monitor the airspace over the Korean Peninsula 24 hours a day."

The Blue House views the fact that South Korea has not been able to possess even a single military reconnaissance satellite as related to the South Korea-U.S. missile guidelines, considering South Korea's military capabilities.

Deputy Director Kim said, "Although I cannot provide more specific details due to military confidentiality, soon our military will possess multiple low Earth orbit military satellites with excellent imaging capabilities," and predicted, "This will contribute to building a safer and more peaceful Republic of Korea, Korean Peninsula, and Northeast Asia."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.