Defense Ministry announces response to N. Korea long range artillery threat

Posted on : 2016-03-31 19:44 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Tactical surface-to-surface guided missiles to be brought in as part of five-year defense plan
A North Korean 300mm multiple rocket launched
A North Korean 300mm multiple rocket launched

The Ministry of National Defense announced plans on Mar. 30 for the introduction of tactical surface-to-surface guided missiles in response to the North Korean long-range artillery threat.

The ministry released its five-year defense plan for 2017-2021 that day with investments totaling 226.5 trillion won (US$197.8 billion), including 73.4 trillion won (US$64.1 billion) for a five-year defense capability improvement project and 153.1 trillion won (US$133.7 billion) for a military capability operation project.

For the defense capability improvement project, it announced plans to invest 24.1 trillion won (US$21 billion) in preparing for the possibility of localized provocations and full-scale war with North Korea.

The effort also included the development and introduction of tactical surface-to-surface guided missiles in response to the threat of North Korean multiple rocket launchers and self-propelled artillery weapons - around 300 of which are currently positioned to target the greater Seoul area.

According to the plan, the guided missiles, which have a range of 120 km, would be introduced to the field in 2019. Currently, the South Korean military possesses Lockheed Martin‘s Army Tactical Missile System (ATacMS) as a tactical surface-to-surface guided missile. The latest move is meant to strengthen the response to the growing threat of long-range artillery after North Korea’s recent test launches of a new 300-mm multiple rocket launcher.

“The test development of guided missiles is in its completion stage,” said a military source. “What remains now is discussion with the US on the issue of attaching military global positioning systems (GPS).”

The ministry also said it plans to invest 7.9 trillion won (US$6.9 billion) in the establishment of a “kill chain” and Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system to respond to the North Korean nuclear and missile threats. In particular, it plans to introduce another ballistic missile early warning radar system to boost its ability to detect the submarine-launched ballistic missiles currently under development by the North. The South Korean military currently possesses two Israeli-made Green Pine radar systems with detection ranges of 500 km.

Other plans announced by the military included the development of carbon fiber bombs, which would be used to scatter conducting fibers to destroy the North Korea’s electrical grid. The ministry also plans to raise troop pay, with the monthly salary for a corporal set to rise from 178,000 won (US$155) this year to 195,800 won (US$171) in 2017 and 226,100 won (US$197) in 2021.

By Park Byong-su, senior staff writer

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