S. Korea to deploy indigenous missile defense system in July

South Korea will deploy an indigenous missile defense system in July to cope with the belligerent North's aggressive pursuit of a missile and weapons program, a senior military official said Wednesday.

South Korea, which decided not to join the U.S.-led global missile defense system, has gradually been building an independent, low-tier missile shield called the Korea Air and Missile Defense System (KAMD) since 2006 by acquiring Patriot missiles and long-range early warning radars.

The KAMD involves early warning radars, ship-to-air and land-based missile defense systems, arming Seoul with the ability to track and shoot down the North's low-flying, short- and medium-range missiles, with help of U.S. early warning satellites.

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