Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Complex multi-layered missile defense system established earlier

Additional reconnaissance satellites and maritime detection assets secured

Countermeasures taken against North Korea's large-scale air attack drill

In response to successive North Korean missile provocations, the ROK military has once again stressed that it can ‘detect and intercept’ North Korean missiles with its current capabilities.

At a regular briefing on the 11th, acting deputy defense ministry spokesperson Moon Hong-sik said, “attack assets and their delivery means can be detected and intercepted with the Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) we currently have.” KAMD, which belongs to the ROK style three-axis system, works based on a concept in which the system detects and analyzes missiles launched by North Korea with an early warning radar or AEGIS　radar to let an optimal interception battery perform missions. Moreover, to further strengthen these capabilities, the ROK military is promoting the early establishment of a complex multi-layered missile defense system through deployment and improvement of a surface-to-air missile Cheongung-II (M-SAMⅡ) and a long-range surface-to-air missile (L-SAM), as well as the deployment of Ballistic Missile Early Warning Radar-II.

“Our reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities are fairly extraordinary," Moon commented at the briefing, in response to concerns that the response capabilities of the Kill Chain would be weakened if North Korea made an unusual attempt to launch a missile from a reservoir.

However, he explained, “The most important issue related to Kill Chain is to secure reconnaissance and surveillance assets.” To this, he added, “In order to secure surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for the entire North Korean region, we are making efforts to secure a variety of types of drones, including military reconnaissance satellites and medium-altitude reconnaissance UAVs, while working to secure additional maritime detection assets at the same time.”

Kim Jun-rak, director of public affairs of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also offered his thoughts. “North Korea’s latest provocation is a desperate measure to evade ROK-U.S. surveillance, being fairly conscious of ROK’s ‘Kill Chain’ capabilities.” He went on to add, “SLBMs are effective as a weapons system when they are launched from submarines.”

At the regular briefing that day, there was also an explanation of the ‘large-scale air attack comprehensive training,’ which had mobilized 150 military aircraft according to North Korea. Kim said, “We already knew the training trends (of North Korea). We did not explain it because the North Korean activities were carried out north of the surveillance line.”

By Chae-Mu, Im <lims86@dema.mil.kr >

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