U.S. Eyes South Korea's Tungsten to Secure Defense Supply

Sangdong mine in eastern South Korea, dormant for more than three decades, has reopened and contains one of the world’s largest tungsten deposits.
Almonty Industries says the deposit holds millions of tons of tungsten ore; the company plans to produce about 1.2 million tons of ore annually once full operations start next year. Tungsten’s high density and exceptional heat resistance make it essential for military applications — armor‑piercing ammunition, tank components, bunker‑busting munitions, jet engine parts and precision guidance systems — and for some advanced industrial and AI-guided weapon systems.
China’s long-standing dominance in critical minerals drove many producers from the market and stoked supply-security concerns after Beijing signaled export leverage during trade disputes. Reopening Sangdong is part of broader Western efforts to diversify sources and reduce dependence on single suppliers. Almonty’s CEO has publicly pledged to guarantee U.S. supply for national security needs.
Technically challenging to extract because tungsten is very dense yet brittle, the ore will nonetheless offer a strategic alternative if projected output is met, potentially securing a reliable non‑Chinese source for decades.