South Korea plans to initiate a project to upgrade surveillance technologies along its border with North Korea.
South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on 3 January that the future project will use the technologies implemented under a recently completed “minor performance improvement project”, which enhanced the surveillance equipment in some forward areas.
Under the minor performance improvement project – initiated in 2022 – new thermal imaging cameras with improved detection capabilities compared with existing systems were procured for the Republic of Korea Army's (RoKA's) 22nd Infantry Division and undisclosed coastal units, DAPA said.
DAPA added that the thermal cameras can also utilise artificial intelligence (AI) for image analysis.
These cameras were procured from S-1 Corporation, which is affiliated with Samsung Group, following field tests of the systems in 2023. The installation of the thermal cameras was completed in December 2024.
The cameras have been working efficiently during day and night and in poor weather conditions to support border operations. These systems have also helped reduce “security vulnerabilities caused by false alarms and decreased detection capabilities due to the ageing surveillance cameras and control systems”, DAPA said.
It is very likely that similar cameras will be delivered to other RoKA units posted at general outposts (GOPs) along the demilitarised zone (DMZ) under the planned project named ‘GOP Scientific Border System Performance Improvement Project'.
DAPA has previously declined Janes request for more information about the new thermal cameras.
For more information, please see South Korea to boost border surveillance .
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