Abrams: "Two Additional Ballistic Missile Defense Sites Deployed in Korea"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]General Robert Abrams, Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command and Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, attracted attention by stating that two additional elements for ballistic missile defense will be deployed on the Korean Peninsula this year.

According to the U.S. Department of Defense's 'DOD News' and Voice of America (VOA) broadcasts on the 11th, General Abrams said at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the 10th (local time), "The U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is developing a total of three capabilities," adding, "One has already been deployed in South Korea, and the other two will be deployed this year, which will dramatically improve our ballistic missile defense capabilities."

He did not specify exactly what the three capabilities refer to. However, based on context, the one "already deployed" is presumed to be the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system temporarily deployed in Seongju, Gyeongbuk Province.

General Abrams also stated, "Every alliance has challenges, and the ironclad ROK-U.S. alliance is no exception," adding, "One example is that restrictions on access to training grounds and airspace in South Korea can affect readiness." He further said, "We are working with the South Korean military to find solutions that both sides can agree on to conduct training on the Korean Peninsula and maintain deterrence through it."

This can be interpreted as a veiled complaint about 'training restrictions' amid the ongoing first half simulation-based Combined Command Post Training (21-1 CCPT). General Abrams is known to have previously expressed dissatisfaction with the simulation-based joint exercises.

However, regarding this issue, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense has repeatedly stated that outdoor field training is conducted throughout the year in a distributed manner.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Boo Seung-chan emphasized during the regular briefing on the same day in response to related questions, "Outdoor field training is not concentrated in a specific period but is conducted evenly throughout the year in a distributed manner."

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is scheduled to visit South Korea on the 17th, and it is reported that plans are being considered for him to visit the Demilitarized Zone or U.S. Forces Korea command posts during his stay. The specific schedule is expected to be coordinated soon after the U.S. advance team arrives.

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