Saudi Arabia Could Hold the Key to Seoul’s Arms Ambitions
South Korea wants to be a major player in global weapons sales. If it succeeds, it could help rebalance arms supply in Asia.
South Korean army with Cheongung surface-to-air missile.
Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg
A likely weapons deal between Riyadh and Seoul could help South Korea realize its ambition to be a major player in the global defense market. The importance of such an agreement cannot be understated: Saudi Arabia is the world’s second-largest importer of major arms, and is shopping around just as the Asian supplier is looking to sell more-advanced weaponry.
High on the Gulf state’s wish list are surface-to-air missiles to intercept air strikes from the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, along the kingdom’s southern border. The Cheongung II KM-SAM system, developed by a group of South Korean contractors including affiliates of Hanwha Aerospace, would fit the bill. Should a deal go through it could top the $3.5 billion contract then-President Moon Jae-in inked with the United Arab Emirates for Cheongung IIs in January 2022.