U.S. forces launch space unit in South Korea amid North's growing threats

Soldiers attend the activation ceremony for a space-monitoring organisation - United States Space Forces Korea, set up aiming to keep an eye on North Korea's nuclear and missile activities, on December 14, 2022 in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Song Kyung-Seok/Pool via REUTERS

SEOUL (Reuters) - U.S. Forces Korea launched a new space forces unit on Wednesday as the allies ramp up efforts to better counter North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats.

The U.S. Space Forces Korea is the second overseas space component of the Space Force and tasked with monitoring, detecting and tracking incoming missiles, as well as bolstering the military's overall space capability.

U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. Paul LaCamera hosted a ceremony at Osan Air Base in the South Korean city of Pyeongtaek to mark the creation of the unit, which will be led by Lt. Col. Joshua McCullion.

The launch came as Seoul and Washington seek to boost security cooperation to deter North Korea, which has tested intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching U.S. mainland this year.

South Korea's air force also set up its own space unit this month to bolster its space power and operation capability together with the U.S. Space Force.

Around 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea under a mutual defence treaty forged after the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty.

The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Central Command set up their space units last month in Hawaii and Florida.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin. Editing by Gerry Doyle)