Military Launches New Headquarters to Strengthen Drone, Counter-Drone Capabilities

The South Korean Defense Ministry has inaugurated a new Drone Headquarters in Pocheon, north of Seoul, to strengthen the nation's unmanned aerial systems and counter-drone capabilities in response to North Korea's escalating drone threats. The new headquarters, which supersedes the former Drone Operations Command, will focus on developing drone and counter-drone strategies and overseeing the creation of drone and anti-drone systems across all armed services.

The move comes as North Korea intensifies its drone development efforts, drawing from its military experience in Russia's Ukraine conflict. The ministry emphasized the seriousness of the threat North Korea poses, highlighting the need for advanced detection, identification, tracking, and countermeasure systems. With the new headquarters, individual service branches will handle drone and counter-drone combat and strike roles, while the Joint Chiefs of Staff will coordinate overall operations.

The launch also marks the beginning of a fast-track certification system for commercial drones and related equipment, enabling the military to acquire ready-made systems quickly and reduce reliance on China by localizing drones and their components.

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