Ministry of National Defense: "North Korean Rocket Artillery Can Be Adequately Defended"

by Yang Nakgyu

Published 13 Oct.2020 11:35(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Military authorities have stated that they can respond immediately through the operation of the Korean missile defense system regarding North Korea's 'super-large multiple rocket launchers' of three types.

Moon Hong-sik, deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, said at a regular briefing on the 13th that when asked whether it is possible to defend against a simultaneous attack mixing a large number of multiple rocket launchers and tactical surface-to-surface missiles revealed at the military parade on the 10th, "South Korea and the U.S. currently operate the Patriot system and will soon operationalize the M-SAM (surface-to-air missile) II weapon system, which have interception capabilities against the new multiple rocket launchers."

He added, "If North Korea attacks simultaneously, our military can operate the Korean missile defense system and immediately respond with strategic strike systems and counter-fire systems to strike the multiple rocket launchers and long-range artillery at their origin, thereby neutralizing them," emphasizing the capability.

North Korea's multiple rocket launchers are classified into 240mm, 300mm, and 600mm. The 240mm targets the Seoul metropolitan area, the 300mm targets the central region, and the 600mm targets the southern region, effectively placing major South Korean military bases within simultaneous strike range. It has been confirmed that North Korea has increased the number of launchers for the 300mm multiple rocket launchers. At the military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Workers' Party in October 2015, eight launchers of the 300mm multiple rocket launchers were revealed. However, in just five years, the number of 300mm launchers has increased to twelve.

It is difficult to intercept the 300mm multiple rocket launchers flying at low altitude at five times the speed of sound. Although our military plans to establish a 'kill chain' system to destroy North Korean missiles, it has been pointed out that intercepting multiple rocket launchers, which are mounted on vehicles and move stealthily before firing, is not easy.

Meanwhile, the North Korean version of the Stryker armored vehicle, which appeared for the first time at the parade, attracted attention due to its resemblance to the U.S. military's Stryker. Until now, North Korea has imitated armored vehicles from China and Russia, but the armored vehicle revealed this time was equipped with '4 axles and 8 wheels,' similar to the U.S. military's armored vehicle. A new tank equipped with a 115mm tank gun and the anti-tank missile 'Bulsae' also appeared for the first time. It is analyzed as a new tank completely different in appearance from the old Soviet T-52/55, T-62 tanks, and the copied Cheonmaho, Pokpungho, and Seongunho tanks.

A new vehicle-mounted SAM (surface-to-air missile) capable of intercepting aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles also appeared for the first time. The North Korean version of the Iskander (KN-23) ballistic missile was mounted on both wheeled and tracked vehicles, and the North Korean version of the ATACMS tactical surface-to-surface missile was mounted on tracked vehicles. It appears that the tracked vehicles were chosen to facilitate mobility on unpaved roads and fields.