JCS to Establish Electromagnetic Warfare Organization Next Year

Audit Report: Analyze Signals Using Platforms Such as Satellites

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) will establish a unit dedicated to electromagnetic spectrum (EMS) operations. It plans to develop EMS into a system that collects and analyzes electromagnetic signals from various platforms, including vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and satellites, and shares the information.

In a report on its work to the National Assembly audit on October 8, the JCS said, "We will establish a unit dedicated to electromagnetic warfare within the JCS next year and redefine our concepts for future operations."

The electromagnetic spectrum is a continuum of electromagnetic waves, highly differentiated according to frequency and wavelength. Its scope is expanding beyond the communications bands used by conventional communications equipment to include infrared and visible light. As technologies related to electronic communications devices advance through integration with cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence (AI) and unmanned systems, the electromagnetic warfare environment is also expected to expand.

Yonhap News Agency

If the electromagnetic spectrum is not managed efficiently, the enemy could mistake electromagnetic-spectrum activity in our military and civilian sectors for an electromagnetic attack. This is why the spectrum is expected to become increasingly important in future warfare, as weapons systems grow more dependent on electronic communications devices.

The JCS plans to develop the concepts and doctrine for electromagnetic spectrum operations (EMSO) and reinforce its capabilities. EMSO is expected to encompass both electromagnetic warfare against the enemy and the management of our military's electromagnetic spectrum, with the aim of minimizing the impact of enemy jamming on our forces and ensuring the conditions necessary for our operations.

The JCS also projected that North Korea's ongoing "border fortification" work near the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) would be completed around the second half of 2028. North Korea has continued fortification work near the MDL since declaring in December 2023 that inter-Korean relations were those between two hostile states. The work took place from April to December 2024 and from March to November 2025, and resumed in March this year. According to a JCS report, North Korea has now completed most of its work to clear areas of vegetation. Some sections have been converted into tactical roads, and construction of obstacles, including fences and minefields, is also underway along the cleared areas.

In the short term, the JCS plans to pursue a firm response, including physical and non-physical measures, and reorganize its operational system in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). In the medium term, it will strengthen its ability to secure operational initiative, including through real-time situational awareness on the ground.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.