Islam Times - ‎South Korea world’s fifth-largest arms exporter

Islam Times - Following the ceasefire of 1953, essentially ending the Korean War, South Korea was one of the world’s poorest countries. Millions of families were separated and relocated while food was scarce, relying on foreign donations such as powdered milk to substitute for meals. Today, South Korea is one of Asia’s largest economies, trading over one trillion dollars annually - including arms exports.

Gradually rising as one of the world’s largest arms exporters, South Korea first entered into the top ten in arm sales in 2004.

According to the US Congressional Research Service, South Korea was the world’s fifth-largest arms exporter in 2011, with transfer agreements worth 1.5 billion dollars. South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration says its goal is to double its exports this year.

Still, some find it odd that South Korea is developing such robust military exports.

Weapons development and export has added unwanted tension around the Korean Peninsula, not only with Pyongyang but also with key allies including the US and Japan.

South Korea plans tenfold growth for its weapons exports in the next few years. Noting that most of Seoul’s arms deals are with the country’s allies during the Korean War, DAPA expressed willingness to transfer technology saying, “We had to acquire technologies in a very humiliating way. We do not want our allies to go through the same ordeal that we had to go through.”