Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

President Park Geun-hye held the Foreign and Security Ministers Conference …

discussed countermeasures related to North Korea’s recent threats

 

 

 

On May 12, President Park Geun-hye instructed to well-prepare the military readiness posture and punish North Korea when provoking us, related to North Korea’s recent threats to hit our vessels.

 

President Park emphasized to keep the Korea-U.S. alliance-level of powerful deterrence and work hard on cooperation with international society while security related departments take thorough precautions against threats and provocative behavior from North Korea at the foreign and security ministers’ meeting held at Cheonwadae on that day.

 

It has been a year since she presided over the meeting on May 23 of last year, after bombardment of Yeongpyeong-do, and the sixth time since her inauguration. The meeting follows North Korea’s a series of recent provocations and threats such as the shooting test of Submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), the Southwest front line command’s aiming strike threat against our vessels and firing ship-to-ship missile on the East sea.

 

She also evaluated North Korea’s SLBM development as a serious challenge to stability in East Asia as well as the Korean Peninsula, while the UN mandate states a prohibition on all ballistic missile firing by North Korea and all activities related to the ballistic missile program.

 

She made a request for countermeasures, saying we could sufficiently cope with North Korea’s missile threats by the Kill Chain and Korea Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) we have been building.

 

The meeting was attended by Defense Minister Han Min-koo, Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se, Unification Minister Hong Yong-pyo, Chief Presidential Secretary Lee Byung-ki, Director of National Security Kim Kwan-jin, Head of the National Intelligence Service Lee Byung-ho, Presidential Secretary for Foreign and Security Affairs Ju Chul-ki and the First Deputy Director of National Security Kim Kyu-hyun.

 

And the MND also clarified its position to cope with North Korea’s SLBM development with a concept of expanding the Kill Chain and KAMD as well.

 

Defense department spokesman Kim Min-seok said at a regular briefing, “It’s not that we don’t have any countermeasures even if North Korea makes an SLBM fighting force in four to five years. When a new intimidatory measure comes up, of course we should expand the concept of the Kill Chain and KAMD.”

 

He also emphasized, “We can track down a Shinpo-class submarine almost in real time and even eliminate the SLBM-equipped submarine if it is judged as a threat, for example, Haesung III, the antiship missile our army has, is able to destroy targets 1,000km away.” Additionally, he explained plans to closely detect and remove the enemy or strike a submarine with P-3C, antisubmarine aircraft, thoroughly tracking the movements.

 

A scenario that Korea-U.S. combined forces deal with concerning North Korea has been suggested as well. Spokesman Kim said, “When a North Korean submarine departs the base, Korea and the U.S. will immediately deploy the Aegis. It can track down missiles in a full range, so we can instantly detect a firing and intercept the missile at the scene through the Korea-U.S. information system and Defense Support Program (DSP).”

 

A military official said, “We will respond to the North Korean SLBM based on a 4D concept. 4D means defend, detect, disrupt and destroy. Our military has been continuing threat evaluation for SLBM and developing strike operations as well. Especially in the denial operation area, the best submarine moving path, the 214 class submarine has a striking system on the water and under the water responding to North Korean submarines with Hong Sang Eo and Cheong Sang Eo, the torpedoes.”

 

Chairman of the joint chiefs of staff Choi Yun-hee discussed counterplans against North Korean SLBM threats with commander, U.S. forces, Korea, Curtis Scaparrotti, on the same day.

 

Meanwhile, this SLBM threat will be discussed as part of the evaluation of North Korean threats at the Korea-U.S. defense ministers’ talks and Korea-US-Japan ministers’ conference to be scheduled during the Asia security council(Shangri-La Dialogue) held in Singapore from May 29 to 31.

 

 

By Joo-Hyeong, Lee < jataka@dema.mil.kr >
By Chul-Hwan, Kim < droid001@dema.mil.kr >

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