Because of their great missile capacity and possible effect on regional stability, South Korea’s Sejong the Great Class destroyers have generated controversy. The 128 vertical launch cells of the ships surpass those of several bigger warships, which begs issues of armaments escalation in East Asia. The Aegis fighting system’s integration has been divisive because of its consequences for missile defense and possibility to lure South Korea into more general strategic disputes. Critics contend the ships’ capacity surpasses South Korea’s defensive requirements.
