South Korea's KAMD: How It Counters North Korean Missiles

North Korea unveiled the Hwasong-11Ma at the 80th anniversary parade of the Workers' Party in Pyongyang's Kim Il-sung Square on the night of October 10. The missile, first revealed at the "Armed Equipment Exhibition" opened on October 4 with Chairman Kim Jong-un in attendance, is analyzed as a hypersonic short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) capable of neutralizing South Korea's air defense network.

The Hwasong-11Ma features a hypersonic glide vehicle warhead attached to a conventional SRBM body. After the propulsion stage separates, the warhead glides toward its target.

Experts note that hypersonic missiles have proven their effectiveness in the Russia-Ukraine war. The Patriot system operated by Ukrainian forces with Western support has seen its interception rate plunge from around 30% initially to single digits recently. Russian hypersonic missiles' evasive maneuvers have made trajectory prediction increasingly difficult.

Hypersonic missiles fly at more than five times the speed of sound, reaching Seoul from Pyongyang in approximately two minutes while executing evasive maneuvers. This makes interception extremely challenging for defenders.

Israel's multi-layered defense system "Iron Dome" is considered the global benchmark for missile defense. It recorded nearly 99% interception success against Iran's large-scale missile attack in April, drawing worldwide attention.

Israel's Three-Layer Defense

Israel operates a triple-layered system comprising Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow 2/3.

Iron Dome is a low-altitude defense system intercepting rockets and drones launched from 4-70 kilometers. Since its first operational deployment in 2011, it has maintained over 90% interception success. Its AI-based selective interception system maximizes cost efficiency by targeting only missiles heading toward populated areas.

David's Sling handles medium-range defense, intercepting missiles and aircraft within 40-300 kilometers. Arrow 2/3 is a high-altitude defense system capable of intercepting medium-range ballistic missiles at 3,000 kilometers and even intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

South Korea's KAMD Structure

KAMD (Korea Air and Missile Defense) is one of the core components of South Korea's three-axis system designed to counter North Korean missile threats. It is specifically designed to defend against short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles as well as long-range artillery capable of striking key facilities in Seoul through rapid mass launches.

KAMD employs a multi-layered defense strategy divided into lower-tier and upper-tier defenses. This structure addresses the three phases of ballistic missile flight: the ascent phase after launch, the midcourse phase in outer space, and the terminal phase as missiles re-enter the atmosphere below 100 kilometers altitude.

Lower-Tier Defense

The M-SAM-II (Cheongung-II), called the "Korean Patriot," is the core lower-tier defense system, intercepting North Korean missiles at 30-40 kilometers altitude. The already deployed M-SAM-I covers altitudes below 20 kilometers. The U.S.-made Patriot (PAC-2/PAC-3) also handles lower-tier defense at altitudes below 40 kilometers.

The M-SAM-III, currently under development, will cover the middle zone between lower and upper tiers at altitudes above 40 kilometers. Its maximum interception altitude will exceed 50 kilometers—double that of Block-II. Development will cost approximately 2.83 trillion won through 2034.

A Defense Acquisition Program Administration official said of the M-SAM Block-III: "The range and interception altitude double, quadrupling the defense coverage area. The number of simultaneous engagements increases more than fivefold compared to Block-II, enabling defense against simultaneous mass attacks."

Upper-Tier Defense

The L-SAM, dubbed the "Korean THAAD," intercepts missiles at 40-60 kilometers altitude during the terminal phase. Development has been completed and the system will be operationalized. It will work alongside the U.S. THAAD system (40-150 kilometers) deployed in South Korea.

The L-SAM-II, currently under development, will extend maximum interception altitude beyond 100 kilometers, up from L-SAM's approximately 60 kilometers.

An Air Force L-SAM Operations Unit will be established in 2027.

A military official explained the rationale for the complex multi-layered defense system: "North Korea possesses not only long-range artillery to attack the capital region but also large numbers of short-range and medium-range missiles capable of directly striking Seoul. Recent new short-range, medium-range, and hypersonic missiles have tactical nuclear-level capabilities. Military command judges that when the complex multi-layered defense system is fully operational, it can maximize the 'more is better' effect for defending the capital region and key facilities."