Understanding Russian–South Korean Arms Trade: A Nontraditional Security Approach?

This article reviews both the developments of and problems within Russian–South Korean arms trade cooperation. From a nontraditional and economic security perspective, this article argues that Russia’s interest in selling weapons to South Korea has been primarily motivated by economic concerns and that this trade has also secured the economic interests of both countries. By being a new consumer of Russian arms, South Korea can help to alleviate both the serious depression that occurred in Moscow’s defense industry after the collapse of the Soviet Union and—Moscow’s more immediate concern—Russia’s debt to South Korea. In addition, the arms trade with Russia has enabled South Korea to purchase new weapons and space high technologies at very competitive prices. There nevertheless remain a number of obstacles in the Russian–Korean arms trade.