Kim Minseok covers South Korean defense. He has worked as a journalist for South Korean military magazines Military Review and Defense Times. Mr Kim is also a research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum, a think tank.
Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has begun building the first prototype for the KF-X fighter program, following completion of the critical design review in September.
The South Korean air force is opposing a navy push for the defense ministry to order Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightnings in a contract that could be placed around 2024, according to industry sources close to the service.
