[Exclusive] S. Korea scales back Aegis patrols in East Sea, raising concerns over North Korean missile analysis

The Korea Herald · Hwang Joo-young · 2026-11-05 06:30 UTC

South Korea suspended the continuous deployment of Aegis destroyers in the East Sea in September last year, raising concerns that the decision could limit the m

Questions raised on price of missile surveillance without blind spots

South Korea suspended the continuous deployment of Aegis destroyers in the East Sea in September last year, raising concerns that the decision could limit the military's ability to gather detailed flight data on North Korean missiles as Pyongyang continues to test an increasingly diverse range of weapons.

The military says its existing surveillance assets are sufficient to sustain missile detection, tracking and defense readiness. But some officials have raised concerns about reduced opportunities to gather detailed missile intelligence, arguing the capabilities needed for missile defense should be distinguished from those required to assess North Korean missile performance.

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