South Korea is taking a major step in strengthening its defense capabilities with the creation of the Strategic Command, set to be launched on October 1, 2024, on the country’s Armed Forces Day. This new military command will play a crucial role in overseeing South Korea’s most advanced weapon systems, including Hyunmoo ballistic missiles, F-35 stealth fighters, and ballistic missile-capable submarines. The move comes in response to North Korea’s ongoing nuclear and missile threats, including recent developments such as the disclosure of a uranium enrichment facility.

The Strategic Command is designed to bolster South Korea’s deterrence against North Korean aggression and will work closely with the U.S. Strategic Command, further solidifying the South Korea-U.S. alliance. This cooperation includes joint operations involving U.S. strategic assets and South Korean weapons systems, especially through the Nuclear Consultative Group, which seeks to integrate their military capabilities for enhanced deterrence.

As part of the Armed Forces Day celebrations, South Korea will also showcase its newest missile, the Hyunmoo-5, capable of carrying an eight-ton warhead, the heaviest of its kind in the world, a significant message of strength against Pyongyang’s provocations. This missile is part of South Korea’s three-axis deterrence system, which includes plans to neutralize North Korea’s leadership in the event of conflict.

The establishment of this command signals South Korea’s commitment to peace through strength, a sentiment echoed by Defence Minister Kim Yong-hyun, who stated that any nuclear strike by North Korea would lead to the regime’s downfall due to the overwhelming force of the South Korea-U.S. alliance​