Article Posted on : - Apr 12, 2011

SEOUL (BNS): In an effort to bolster its defence capabilities, South Korea is building a missile defence system to intercept ballistic missiles and plans to complete it by 2015.

The country has gradually built an independent, low-tier missile defense shield since 2006 by acquiring Patriot missiles and long-range early warning radars, Yonhap quoting a Defence Ministry report said.

According to the report, the military will complete building the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system, designed to track and intercept incoming ballistic missiles and cruise missiles from North Korea, by 2015.

With the help of ship-to-air missile systems from Aegis-equipped destroyers and modified Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) interceptors, the KAMD system would enable the South's military to engage the North's low-flying, short and medium-range missiles, Defence Ministry officials were quoted as saying.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula remained high after North Korea torpedoed a South Korean warship and shelled a southern border island last year in which 50 people killed.