The Republic of Korea (ROK) has experienced record growth in recent years in military production for domestic and export purposes. Recent sales of high value-added equipment, including aircraft and naval vessels, to several regional and international markets are particularly noteworthy. This growth is driven by a number of factors, including a desire for greater independence from traditional suppliers (mainly American) and to bolster local companies.

Given that ROK-produced weapons are becoming seen as a cost-effective alternative to more expensive, U.S.-produced systems, the country has become one of the top arms exporters in the region. In 2014, the ROK was second only to China among arms-exporting East Asian countries, with the former projected to take over the No. 1 spot by 2015. While the this feat is impressive in its own right, the potential implications for the balance of power on the Korean Peninsula are also of interest.