Following a succession of missile tests in both North and South Korea that began last year, a new narrative of an inter-Korean “arms race” has emerged. However, this interpretation of events is misleading. While North Korea’s reasons for weapons testing are well-documented, South Korea’s military buildup in recent years has received far less attention. Seoul’s drive for new weapons systems is better explained as proactive efforts to build military capabilities to support national security priorities in a broader context, rather than just reactions to the North Korean threat.

Please join KEI for a conversation with Markus Garlauskas and Axel Catellier on the factors driving South Korea’s recent military force development and how Seoul and Washington should coordinate approaches on their own defense development in ways that would benefit both countries in the years to come.

The discussion will be livestreamed via YouTube.