The United States reportedly views South Korea as a potential participant in its sea-based Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system.

The U.S. Congressional Research Service said in a report Wednesday that some of the countries the Defense Department views as potential naval Aegis BMD operators include South Korea, Australia, Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain.

The report added that South Korea is either building or planning to build Aegis ships.

The Aegis BMD system centers on intercepting enemy ballistic missiles with missiles positioned on Aegis destroyers.

The U.S. has reportedly been seeking to include South Korea in the missile defense system as part of efforts to counter a possible North Korean missile attack.