South Korean military sources have confirmed that for the past two decades, they’ve been developing technology akin to the electromagnetic weapon reportedly used in the January operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
It aims to leverage this research to create weapon systems capable of both offensive and defensive operations.
On Monday, documents obtained by Rep. Kang Dae-sik of the People Power Party from the Ministry of Defense (MND) and the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) revealed that the MND has been researching technologies similar to the U.S. military’s Discombobulator for approximately 20 years.
In a January 24 interview with the New York Post, President Donald Trump claimed the Discombobulator had neutralized enemy equipment, stating that they had Russian and Chinese rockets, but couldn’t fire a single one. When it went in, they hit the launch button, but nothing happened.
Several international news outlets reported that during the U.S. operation in Venezuela, Maduro’s security detail was seen kneeling, with nosebleeds and vomiting blood. A source close to Maduro told the press that without warning, all radar systems suddenly went dark.
South Korean military analysts and experts believe the Discombobulator likely incorporates technologies such as Voice to Skull (V2K), Active Denial System (ADS), and High Power Microwave (HPM).
V2K is a non-lethal technology that bypasses the eardrum, using electromagnetic waves to create intense sounds or disrupt balance directly in the brain. ADS, another non-lethal system, employs electromagnetic waves to heat skin moisture, causing pain.
HPM technology generates powerful electromagnetic waves between 1 and 100 GHz, capable of inducing overvoltage in electronic devices, frying semiconductors, or causing equipment malfunctions.
These technologies could prove invaluable in minimizing casualties while neutralizing enemy weapon systems during targeted operations like command center neutralization. They may also offer potential in countering drone swarms in open terrain.
Since 2021, ADD has focused on miniaturizing electromagnetic pulse devices and is currently developing high-power electromagnetic wave technologies to combat swarm drone threats.