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Maria Siow

Reports that Washington could redirect some US military assets from South Korea to the Middle East have stirred unease in Seoul, reviving concerns that a crisis elsewhere could compromise deterrence on the Korean peninsula.
Analysts said a redeployment of missile-defence systems could leave South Korea feeling vulnerable to North Korean “adventurism” and signal Washington’s “shifting priorities and lack of seriousness” towards its Indo-Pacific allies.
Citing a South Korean government official, the Dong-A Ilbo reported on Thursday that Washington and Seoul were in talks regarding US munitions requirements and the possible redeployment of US Forces Korea (USFK) assets to the Middle East.
The ongoing war between the US and Iran has led to an increased demand for munitions such as strike and interceptor missiles, raising the possibility that key USFK capabilities may be redirected.
Expressing caution, South Korea’s Ministry of National Defence said USFK’s mission was to maintain a strong combined defence posture with South Korean forces and contribute to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and in the wider region.

Ministry spokeswoman Chung Bin-na said at a regular briefing on Thursday that Seoul and Washington “remain in close communication” regarding the operational employment of USFK forces.
The USFK and the US Department of Defence told South Korean media that, for “operational security reasons”, they would not comment on the movement, relocation or potential repositioning of specific military capabilities or assets.
South Korean news reports have suggested that the Patriot PAC-3 and THAAD air defence systems might be redeployed from South Korea to the Middle East.
The former intercepts lower-altitude threats and can destroy a wide range of ballistic missiles, while the latter is designed to protect entire regions or cities from long-range attacks.
These air defence systems are widely viewed as the most likely candidates for redeployment, especially after Tehran warned that it could launch additional attacks against US bases in the Middle East using advanced weaponry.
Seoul’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun said ‌on Friday that the US and South Korean ⁠militaries were discussing the possible dispatch of some Patriot systems to the Middle East, according to a Reuters report.


On Thursday, Iran’s ambassador to South Korea warned that any USFK mobilisation to the Middle East would be an “adventurist” move, effectively turning South Korea into a logistical platform for foreign wars.
“The United States often acts as if the land hosting its overseas bases is its own, bypassing the consent of host nations,” Saeed Koozechi said, as reported by the Korea JoongAng Daily. “We cannot rule out [retaliatory] efforts if the US attempts to utilise military capabilities, weapons or troop deployments from South Korea. If the US pursues such adventurist actions … it will likely lead to many casualties.”
‘Shifting priorities’
Alexander Hynd, lecturer at the University of Melbourne’s Asia Institute, said that any redeployment of THAAD or Patriot systems could leave South Korea feeling more vulnerable to North Korean “adventurism”.
“However, considering the Trump administration’s recent hyper-aggressive posture and disavowal of international law, I would be very surprised if North Korea were to initiate a direct confrontation,” he added.
Hynd said there was speculation that the US and its allies in the Middle East were running out of interceptor missiles to counter Iran’s strikes.
“There is a lot of uncertainty here, particularly around how long the war will go on and how degraded Iran’s missile stockpiles and delivery systems are,” he said.
Seoul had similar concerns when the USFK redeployed between 3,000 and 4,000 troops to Iraq in 2004, Hynd said. The move was seen as potentially weakening South Korea’s deterrence at a time of heightened tension surrounding Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons programme.

Another concern for Seoul was that, despite Washington’s stated focus on the Indo-Pacific, the US had once again “prioritised” a conflict in the Middle East, Hynd said.
Redeploying assets would send a clear signal to US adversaries in the region, particularly North Korea, of Washington’s “shifting priorities and lack of seriousness” towards its Indo-Pacific allies, said Abhishek Sharma, a research assistant at the Observer Research Foundation in India specialising in Indo-Pacific security and geopolitical developments.
However, Sharma said the move was unlikely to “embolden” Pyongyang.
Since redefining the South as a “primary foe” rather than a partner for reunification, North Korea has avoided engagement with both Seoul and Washington. It has also grown more self-assured through deepening ties with Russia, reducing its need to make diplomatic concessions.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday the ongoing US military operation in Iran was expected to last four to five weeks but could go on for longer if necessary.
Tried and tested
According to reports on Tuesday, South Korea’s domestically developed air defence weapon system Cheongung-II (M-SAM) was recently deployed in combat in the United Arab Emirates, intercepting multiple Iranian missiles.
It is believed to be the first time a South Korean-exported weapons system has been used in actual combat.
Sharma said the system’s deployment “speaks volumes” about its importance to national security and defence, particularly in times of crisis.
“Its use in the Middle East and success during conflict further opens up opportunities for South Korean companies in the region” and would also bring in new customers, he said.

In recent years, South Korea’s defence industry has emerged as a top-tier global arms exporter.
Driven by rapid production capabilities, competitive pricing and the need to strengthen its defences against the North, South Korea ranked among the world’s top 10 arms exporters between 2020 and 2024, accounting for 2.2 per cent of global exports.
Seoul’s deepening defence ties with and rising exports to Middle Eastern countries highlight the increasing trust in South Korea as a reliable defence partner, Shama said. “This development will likely help South Korea to emerge as an alternative defence supplier in the region.”
South Korean arms exports to Middle Eastern countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt more than tripled over the past five years, rising from around US$241 million in 2019 to around US$747 million in 2024.
In 2022, Hanwha Defence signed a US$1.7 billion deal to export K9 self-propelled howitzers to Egypt. In February, South Korea and the UAE signed an agreement to promote defence cooperation worth more than US$35 billion, covering anti-air defence, navy and air force projects.


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South Korea uneasy as US weighs moving air defences to Middle East

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New destroyer Choe Hyon sails with Kim Jong-un aboard on Tuesday. Photo: KCNA/AP

Kim Jong-un salutes troops during his inspection of destroyer Choe Hyon ahead of its commissioning at Nampo Shipyard in North Korea on Tuesday. Photo: KCNA/AFP

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Fears are growing in Seoul that shifting US Patriot and THAAD missiles to fight Iran could leave it vulnerable to North Korea


Fears are growing in Seoul that shifting US Patriot and THAAD missiles to fight Iran could leave it vulnerable to North Korea.


South Korea uneasy as US weighs moving air defences to Middle East

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Fears are growing in Seoul that shifting US Patriot and THAAD missiles to fight Iran could leave it vulnerable to North Korea

Fears are growing in Seoul that shifting US Patriot and THAAD missiles to fight Iran could leave it vulnerable to North Korea