Emerging Threats, Force Structures, and the Role of Air Power in Korea

North Korea's ballistic missile program, the theater missile defense debate, and ongoing discussions concerning South Korea's next-generation combat aircraft have combined to heighten awareness of the critical importance of aerospace power. To assess these and other related issues, the Air Power Program based at the Center for International Studies at Yonsei University in the Republic of Korea (ROK), together with Project AIR FORCE at RAND and the Pacific Century Institute, co-organized the Second International Air Power Conference, held June 11-12, 1999, in Seoul. The conference addressed ROK's desirable force structure in the 21st century, the role of air and space power in shaping future deterrence and defense missions, the ballistic missile threat both now and in the near term and options for responding to it, and collaboration on long-term development of air power. It is expected that the findings in this volume, a compilation of the 15 papers delivered at the conference, will have critical implications for Korea's national security, defense planning dynamics, force structuring, and air defense modernization programs.