{"id":2199729,"date":"2022-12-16T09:24:50","date_gmt":"2022-12-16T09:24:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nknews.org\/koreapro\/?p=2199729"},"modified":"2023-04-05T16:10:46","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T07:10:46","slug":"big-year-for-south-korean-arms-sales-masks-vulnerabilities-in-national-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2022\/12\/big-year-for-south-korean-arms-sales-masks-vulnerabilities-in-national-defense\/","title":{"rendered":"Big year for South Korean arms sales masks vulnerabilities in national defense"},"content":{"rendered":"
President Yoon Suk-yeol has <\/span>declared<\/span><\/a> that he seeks to make South Korea one of the world\u2019s top four weapons suppliers, and so far, the country appears to be successfully working toward that goal, inking record sales this year thanks in large part to a <\/span>$15 billion<\/span><\/a> arms deal with Poland.<\/span><\/p>\n For <\/span>wide<\/span><\/a>–<\/span>ranging<\/span><\/a> reasons<\/span><\/a>, such as its long alliance with the U.S., established industrial base, <\/span>shifting Middle Eastern geopolitics<\/span><\/a> and the <\/span>nature<\/span><\/a> of the ongoing Korean War, the ROK has earned a reputation as a reliable arms exporter and as a formidable military power in its own right.<\/span><\/p>\n But while arms sales are increasing and <\/span>Global Firepower Index<\/span><\/a> (GFP) ranks South Korea\u2019s military as the world\u2019s sixth strongest, the country\u2019s reputation for military prowess may ironically warp <\/span>perceptions<\/span><\/a> of its actual power \u2014 and conceal critical weaknesses.<\/span><\/p>\n From shortages of ammunition to shrinking manpower, these problems stand in the way of the country\u2019s security and run counter to the image it seeks to project as a weapons supplier. And while they won\u2019t be easy to overcome, doing so will be essential to maintaining the military as a capable fighting force.<\/span><\/p>\n