Expansion of Research Facilities to Counter Rising North Korean Threats
Will the New Test Site Become the Military's 'Missile Incubator'?
Surface-to-air guided missile 'Cheongung' developed by the Agency for Defense Development [Photo by Defense Media Agency]
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Amid escalating nuclear and missile threats from North Korea, the Agency for Defense Development (ADD), known as the "cradle of strategic weapon development," is establishing a new testing site. The goal is to secure research and testing facilities for the Korean-style 3-axis system and to strengthen practical response capabilities against North Korean threats.
According to the military on the 9th, the 2023 budget proposal under the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA), approved by the National Assembly's National Defense Committee on the 4th, includes an initial payment of over 1.4 billion KRW for a research facility project to reinforce ADD's research infrastructure. The project involves constructing a new testing site near the Anheung Comprehensive Testing Ground in Taean County, Chungnam, currently operated by ADD. The exact location has not been specified.
This project, set to commence next year with a target completion in 2026, is planned with a total budget of approximately 35 billion KRW. The new testing site aims to secure research and testing facilities for the Korean-style 3-axis system to enhance practical response capabilities against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
North Korea is assessed to have completed all physical preparations for its seventh nuclear test. In particular, during the recent South Korea-U.S. joint air exercise "Vigilant Storm," North Korea launched about 35 missiles and, for the first time since the division of the peninsula, fired missiles south of the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the East Sea, escalating provocations daily.
The military authorities view the establishment of a new testing site as essential to research and develop cutting-edge strategic weapons in a more advanced and modern testing environment in response to North Korean threats.
In addition to this purpose, considering that missile tests such as the ground-to-ground guided missile Baekgom in the 1970s, Hyunmoo-1, Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missiles, and the domestically produced medium-range surface-to-air guided weapon Cheongung have mainly been conducted at the existing Anheung Comprehensive Testing Ground, the new testing site is expected to become the military's new "missile cradle."
Once completed, the new testing site will become ADD's seventh testing ground. Currently, ADD operates the Anheung Comprehensive Testing Ground, Special Firepower Testing Ground, Changwon Testing Ground, Aviation Testing Ground, Maritime Testing Ground, and Electronics Testing Ground.
Meanwhile, the budget proposal approved by the National Defense Committee for next year is also seen as strengthening the treatment of research personnel dedicated to domestic weapon development. The personnel expenses budget for improving ADD employees' treatment, including security allowances, position allowances, and overtime pay, increased by about 10 billion KRW compared to the government proposal. Budgets for expanding regular staff to secure researchers (3 billion KRW) and for excellent work bonuses (2 billion KRW) were also increased.
Not only ADD but also the Defense Technology Quality Institute, which oversees defense science technology and quality assurance of military supplies, saw an increase of 1.85 billion KRW in the budget for improving employee treatment.
These budget proposals will be finalized after review and approval by the National Assembly's Budget and Accounts Committee and passage in the plenary session of the National Assembly.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
