The Republic of Korea (RoK, or South Korea)'s defence industry has been shaped by the country's unique strategic environment, having evolved over several decades to address the requirements of its rapidly modernising armed forces and a national imperative to expand its national export potential. Enduring threats posed by an unpredictable and belligerent Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea) as well as historical baggage with Japan and an increasingly powerful China have driven indigenous defence-industrial advancement across the air, land, and naval domains and provided the RoK armed forces with a highly credible set of offensive and defensive capabilities. Despite the remarkable progress Seoul is seeking to decrease its reliance on advanced technologies - especially command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C4ISR) - from the United States as well as position its defence industry as an engine of growth for national economic development.
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