South Korea’s army warned it would be quick in completely obliterating the hermit kingdom’s front-line artillery systems if war were to break out on the peninsula.
And military chiefs are pushing for a “three-axis” defence platform against the North’s threats and provocations – the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike system, the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD), and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) scheme.
In a report to the National Assembly, army chiefs presented their three-tier missile strike concept that could be deployed in the early stage of an armed conflict.
The weapon that would first be mobilised is a tactical surface-to-surface missile, called KTSSM and known as artillery killer.
In a statement to the Assembly, bosses said: “KTSSM-I will strike the enemy’s tunnels with the 170-mm self-propelled howitzers and 240-mm multiple-rocket launch systems.”
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KTSSM-II could then be used to bomb SCUD missile facilities and North Korea’s 300-mm rocket launchers.
The Army also plans to fire Hyunmoo-II ballistic missiles against the North’s nuclear and other WMD systems and supporting units.
Then, to take the North’s leadership out, the army is seeking to acquire more powerful ballistic missiles – tentatively named the Hyunmoo-IV.
Seoul has reached a de-facto deal with Washington to revise their missile development guidelines so that it can double the maximum payload of its ballistic missiles.
Under a bilateral accord with the US revised in 2012, it can develop ballistic missiles with a range of up to 800km and a payload weight of up to 500kg.
The revelation was made during Seoul’s regular parliamentary audit of the operation of 490,000 troops, which comes as the country joins the US for joint military drills this week.
Several US warships including the USS Ronald Reagan have taken part in exercises in the East Sea.
It is part of a week-long Maritime Counter Special Operations Exercise, which will also take place in the Yellow Sea.
Also docked in a South Korean dock is the nuclear-powered submarine the USS Michigan.