One of the most consequential outcomes of the May 21 summit meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and South Korean President Moon Jae-in is the termination of the bilateral missile guidelines. South Korea may now pursue the development of longer-range, more sophisticated missiles. As a result, new dynamics stand to be introduced to the inter-Korean military balance with broader implications for stability in the Indo-Pacific region. 

WHAT WERE THE MISSILE GUIDELINES

The missile guidelines were originally developed and implemented in the late-1970s by the South Korean Park Chung-hee government and the U.S.’ Jimmy