[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] South Korea, US, and Japan to Share North Korean Missile Information in Real Time

Real-Time Missile Alert Information Sharing System Activated Starting Today
Three-Party Training Plan Involving Strategic Weapons Also to Be Conducted from Next Year

From the 19th, South Korea, the United States, and Japan will activate a real-time missile warning information sharing system regarding North Korea's missiles. This is in response to North Korea accelerating missile provocations, including the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) the day before. The three countries had agreed at the Defense Ministers' Meeting last November to complete the sharing system within the year.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Until now, real-time missile warning information sharing about North Korean missiles was conducted bilaterally centered on the United States, not among the three countries. Information was communicated between the South Korean military-U.S. Forces Korea-U.S. military and the Japan Self-Defense Forces-U.S. Forces Japan-U.S. military, which posed limitations for trilateral sharing.

However, by connecting the Hawaii Integrated Control Center under the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command with the command and control systems (C4I) of U.S. Forces Korea and U.S. Forces Japan, the three countries will be able to share in real time the flight trajectories and expected impact points of North Korean missiles detected by the surveillance assets of the South Korean military, Japan Self-Defense Forces, and U.S. military. This will minimize 'blind spots' and errors from immediately after North Korea's missile provocation to the final landing, enabling more accurate detection and tracking of trajectories. The agreement among the three heads of state effectively aims to remove the information barrier between South Korea and Japan.

A military official stated, "We have strengths in detecting the missile's ascent phase, and Japan has strengths in detecting the descent phase. Simply gathering information from the three countries will bring significant benefits in terms of security."

Additionally, South Korea, the United States, and Japan have established a trilateral training plan to be implemented from next year. Following this year's first-ever trilateral joint air exercise near the Korean Peninsula involving the B-52 strategic bomber, more diverse and intensive joint maritime and air exercises among the three countries are expected next year. A Strategic Command, a dedicated unit to establish an integrated nuclear and conventional operational system optimized for the Korean Peninsula situation, will also be established.

A Ministry of National Defense official said, "These achievements and other efforts demonstrate an unprecedented depth, scale, and scope of South Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation," adding, "The three countries will continue to strengthen trilateral cooperation not only in response to regional challenges but also to ensure peace and stability beyond the Korean Peninsula, including the Indo-Pacific region."

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