&#91LETTERS TO THE EDITOR&#93Korea needs to rely on its own missiles

A nation’s air defense cannot be accomplished with only fighter jets. Fighters are generally used as a means of attack, not a means of defense. A trustworthy shield for air defense is the surface-to-air missile, or SAM.
Our troops have been using the Nike surface- to-air missile since the 1960s. The Nike, however, has exceeded its expected life span and our forces are going through maintenance difficulties with the interruption of the production of parts.
This is why it is important for Korea to enter the surface-to-air missile business, upgrading our defensive arsenal.
Long-range SAMs discourage enemy aircraft from approaching the cease-fire lines and can accomplish a “surprise” attack from long distances during the enemy’s massive penetration of our air space at the outbreak of war.
To achieve independence in national defense we must investigate manufacturing SAMs.

by Kim Dong-yun