Korea’s Cheongung-II : Reflections on the Contest Between the Spear and the Shield

Lawrence Wong

Secretary-General, China–Korea Cultural Cooperation Research Association

1. The Middle East War and Its Implications for South Korea

The Middle East war that erupted on February 28, 2026—triggered by U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear and military facilities—has been rapidly escalating following Iran’s sweeping retaliatory attacks. Tehran has launched missiles and drones not only toward Israel but also against neighboring countries hosting U.S. military bases, raising fears that the conflict may expand into a broader regional war engulfing the entire Middle East.

The outbreak of hostilities, coupled with Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, has sent global oil prices soaring. The resulting surge in energy costs is intensifying inflationary pressures, destabilizing financial markets, and heightening concerns about a global economic slowdown.

For South Korea, which imports more than 70 percent of its crude oil from the Middle East, the crisis presents a particularly serious economic vulnerability.

2. A Proxy Contest Between the Spear (North Korea) and the Shield (South Korea)

Recently, footage has been circulating on YouTube showing South Korea’s Cheongung-II missile defense system intercepting Iranian missiles launched toward the United Arab Emirates. Reports highlighting its remarkable 96 percent interception rate—along with news of a surge in additional orders—have reverberated across the global defense market.

Once considered a peripheral player in Northeast Asia, South Korea’s defense industry—often referred to as “K-defense”—is now emerging as a major force on the global stage.

The missiles fired by Iran are widely believed to be based on North Korean technology, while the Cheongung-II system that intercepted them is a product of South Korea. Since the 1980s, North Korea has transferred missile technology to Iran, while South Korea has invested heavily in missile defense capabilities to counter the North Korean threat.

In this sense, the ongoing Middle East war bears an uncanny resemblance to a proxy confrontation between North Korea and South Korea. In the age-old contest between the spear that claims to pierce any shield and the shield that promises to block any spear, the recent success of the shield offers South Korea a reassuring—and deeply gratifying—demonstration of its defensive capabilities.

3. The Return of an Arms Race: Why K-Defense Matters

The Middle East war will, in one way or another, eventually come to an end. Yet when it does, the world may well enter a renewed era of arms competition reminiscent of the Cold War.

Nations will increasingly channel resources into defense spending, strengthening their militaries in the name of preserving peace. The old Roman adage—“If you want peace, prepare for war”—may soon acquire a modern twist.

In the years ahead, it may well be paraphrased as: “If you want peace, pay attention to K-defense.”