Acquiring SM-3 missiles not an option for S. Korea: defense ministry

South Korea is not considering the purchase of a ship-based missile system used by the U.S., Seoul's defense ministry said Monday, reaffirming its earlier position that it will seek to develop an indigenous missile defense shield.

In a recent report by its subcommittee on defense, the U.S. House of Representatives said that South Korea has been mulling the acquisition of the Standard Missile 3, or SM-3, advising Seoul to take on the U.S. technology for the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD).

"We've never considered adopting the SM-3 missiles... Among issues under consideration is how to boost our maritime-based intercepting capabilities, but we've not yet reviewed any details," Seoul's defense ministry spokesperson Kim Min-seok told a regular briefing.

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