South Korea Should Build Out a Reconnaissance Satellite Ecosystem

South Korea faces a significant national security vulnerability due to its heavy reliance on U.S. and Japanese reconnaissance satellites for monitoring North Korea. This dependency is perilous given the North's nuclear threats and the risk that allied intelligence assets could be diverted during a crisis. To achieve strategic autonomy, Seoul must not only develop its own military satellites but also create a comprehensive sustainment ecosystem. This support structure should integrate robust policies, long-term contracting, and civil-military cooperation, learning from the models used by the United States, Japan, and Israel.