South Korea in March 2026: the most important developments in security
South Korea's security picture in March 2026 was defined by North Korean weapons tests during joint drills with the United States. South Korea and the US began their annual Freedom Shield exercises on March 9, and Kim Yo Jong warned that they would harm regional stability and bring 'terrible consequences'. On March 14 North Korea fired 10 ballistic missiles. On March 15 Kim Jong Un oversaw a live-fire drill of nuclear-capable 600 mm rocket launchers, appearing with his teenage daughter. On March 24 he declared the country's nuclear status irreversible and named South Korea its most hostile adversary. On March 25 he said the US war on Iran justified keeping nuclear weapons, and on March 29 North Korea tested a new solid-fuel missile engine under his supervision.
The war with Iran also pulled US air defences away from Korea. From March 4 reports said the US was considering moving air defence systems from South Korea to the Middle East, and by March 10 and 11 reports said part of the THAAD system and Patriot batteries would be redeployed. Seoul said it could still deter threats and that the US 'may not accept' its opposition to the move, while officials said the shift left them concerned and might force a reassessment of defence posture. The Pentagon said US Forces Korea remained focused on a combat-credible posture. On March 15 South Korea said it was considering President Donald Trump's request for security help in the Strait of Hormuz, and reportedly shipped more Cheongung-II interceptors to the United Arab Emirates.
Other items included a US intelligence report saying North Korea remains committed to expanding its nuclear and missile programs, and a separate report that North Korea gave Russia up to $14 billion in military aid. South Korea raised its terrorism alert level ahead of a BTS concert in Seoul and debuted its KF-21 Boramae fighter jet on March 25. Three South Korean civilians were indicted for flying drones into North Korea without authorization, and Hanwha teamed with Indra on a $5.3 billion artillery order from Spain.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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