by Park Sunmi
Published 21 Apr.2022 21:20(KST)
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] The military has successfully conducted consecutive launches of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs). With the verification of operational capability, the SLBM force deployment can proceed without any setbacks.
On the 21st, the Ministry of National Defense announced that two SLBMs were consecutively test-fired from the 3,000-ton class submarine Dosan Ahn Changho, the first ship of its class, successfully hitting the target. The success of consecutive launches means that operational capability has been verified, making it possible to deploy them in actual service within this year.
A Ministry of National Defense official stated, "This test launch was conducted as a follow-up test to verify SLBM capabilities in operational environments following last year's successful SLBM launch disclosure," and explained, "Our military views the success of this SLBM test launch as a contribution to the development of national defense capabilities and will carry out SLBM force deployment without any setbacks." He added, "We are securing advanced high-power forces to support peace on the Korean Peninsula through building strong military power and plan to continue developing them."
Military authorities are reportedly planning to equip a total of nine medium-sized submarines, including the Dosan Ahn Changho, with 78 SLBMs.
This SLBM test launch took place in the West Sea area on the 18th. It has been seven months since the military's first successful SLBM test launch from the Dosan Ahn Changho in September last year. The consecutively launched SLBMs, fired about 20 seconds apart, flew approximately 400 km and hit maritime targets.
SLBMs are highly valued strategic assets because they can be covertly operated from submarines. Currently, only six countries? the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, France, and India?operate them, and Korea was recorded as the seventh SLBM-operating country in the world following last year's first successful launch.
Meanwhile, it was reported that Suh Hoon, Director of the National Security Office at the Blue House, also attended the consecutive launch test site.
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