[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Hamas Improvised Explosive Devices That Troubled Israeli Military Supported by North Korea... 'Not Just Someone Else's Problem'

North Korea's Potential Use of IEDs
Insufficient Protection of Operational Deployment Vehicles

As North Korea is reported to possess improvised explosive devices (IEDs), there are calls for our military to expedite the introduction of mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles (MRAPs). Military authorities believe that North Korea's technological capabilities have advanced to the point where it can supply domestically developed IEDs to Hamas.

The Israel Defense Forces claimed that Hamas used North Korean-made IEDs during attacks on Israel. Akiva Tor, the Israeli ambassador to South Korea, stated, "There are North Korean weapons in the Gaza Strip, and I understand that Hamas is using them." The Israeli military estimates that more than 500 IEDs supplied by North Korea have been provided to Hamas.

North Korea denies the arms support allegations. Kim Song, North Korea's ambassador to the United Nations, said at the UN General Assembly on October 31, "The claim that North Korean weapons were used in attacks on Israel is baseless and a false rumor." However, Ali Barakeh, a senior Hamas official stationed in Beirut, Lebanon, emphasized in an interview with a Lebanese media outlet on the 3rd of last month that "North Korea is our ally," solidifying the international community's acceptance of North Korea's arms support to Hamas as a fait accompli.

Currently, our military operates the small tactical vehicle 'K-151' (nicknamed ‘Hyeonma’) instead of MRAPs. Hyeonma was developed to replace the ¼-ton trucks (commonly called Retona or Jeep) previously used by the military. However, its protection capability is weak, rated at ‘STANAG Level 1.’ STANAG refers to NATO Standardization Agreements, which are classified into levels 1 to 4. Level 1 can only defend against bullets, while protection against direct-fire weapons, mines, and IEDs is possible from level 3 and above. This means it is vulnerable to North Korea’s homemade bomb attacks.

For this reason, our military once attempted to develop an MRAP to counter North Korea’s IEDs. In 2011, the domestic MRAP development project was selected as one of seven new concept technology demonstration projects, and a contract was signed with Doosan DST. The government planned to invest 1.2 billion won in this company by 2013 for joint development. The domestic MRAP was intended to withstand TNT explosions of up to 6.8 kg. However, the project was canceled after internal military calls to procure used MRAPs from the U.S. military emerged.

In 2008 alone, the U.S. military deployed about 7,700 MRAP armored vehicles to the Afghanistan war and other conflicts. Their performance was outstanding. U.S. MRAPs can carry four personnel and feature an automatic tire pressure control system that allows them to run at speeds of 80 km/h even if the tires are punctured. They are also equipped with jammers that can disrupt enemy radio signals and have windows measuring 60 cm wide by 30 cm high, enabling reconnaissance missions.

The problem is cost. MRAPs cost between $10,000 and $20,000 annually per vehicle for maintenance. Unable to bear these enormous upkeep costs, the U.S. military did not bring MRAPs back to the mainland after the war. When withdrawing from Afghanistan, the U.S. military offered allied countries the MRAPs stationed there for free, and some were deployed to the U.S. Forces Korea. A military official said, "If North Korea has deployed IEDs, there is a high possibility they will be used in wartime," adding, "Even during post-war urban stabilization operations, it could be fatal for our military."