Energy Insecurity as a Driving Force for South Korea’s Weapons Exports

"This paper will seek to identify the strategy behind South Korea’s heavily promoted military export program. Why does South Korea continue to pursue an expansion of arms exports despite their potential setbacks to its national security, regional dynamics, and alliance with the United States? My hypothesis is that the South Korean government promotes arms exports to strengthen strategic relations with countries in order to best increase its prospects for securing energy and natural resources abroad. Whether the recipient country provides security guarantees, is an ally of South Korea, or has a democratic form of government is not the most important factor in determining its likelihood of receiving South Korean arms exports. Instead, it is the recipient country’s wealth of oil and energy resources that make the country a candidate for South Korean weapons and dual-use technology exports."--from pages 20-2