Seoul to advance deployment of defense system by 2-3 years

South Korea will speed up the planned deployment of advanced weapons by a couple of years to better counter nuclear and missile threats posed by North Korea, military officials said Tuesday.

The defense ministry is planning to advance the deployment of missiles and other weapons systems from the original schedule of the mid-2020s due to the North's continued provocations, a senior defense ministry official said in a press briefing.

Under the "three-pillar" system, South Korea aims to detect the North's incoming missiles and launch counterattacks against the communist state's key facilities. The three-pronged formula includes the "Kill Chain" strike system, the Korean Air and Missile Defense, and the Korea Massive Punishment & Retaliation plan, all locally produced defense systems.

The Kill Chain and the KAMD are designed to detect and destroy incoming missiles in the shortest possible time. The KMPR is aimed at launching attacks on North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and the communist regime's military leadership if signs of the imminent use of nuclear weapons are detected. 

In a meeting held Tuesday, the government and the ruling Saenuri Party agreed to speed up the establishment of the three-pillar system in South Korea as the North looks set to continue with its nuclear and missile development programs despite international sanctions and condemnations. 

"It takes an extra budget of 200 billion won ($177 million) to 300 billion won to advance the project by one year," said Rep. Kim Gwang-lim, the chief policymaker of the party, adding that every effort will be made to reflect the increase in the budget.

The ministry official called on the ruling and opposition parties to "make concerted efforts to secure the extra budget given the urgency of security matters." 

In the meeting, Defense Minister Han Min-koo asked government officials and ruling party members to provide the defense ministry with active support to strengthen the country's defense capabilities against threats from the North.

"Considering the Kim Jong-un regime's recklessness and unpredictability with nuclear and missile development programs, we need to further beef up our defense capabilities," Han said.

In extended efforts to counter the North's threats, the government said it will carefully review the plan to build nuclear-powered submarines to trail and keep close tabs on North Korean ballistic missile subs that can pose serious challenges to national security down the line.

"To have nuclear submarines is something that can be considered," the ministry official said. 

Following North Korea's fifth nuclear test and additional missile launches last month, calls have been growing for Seoul to build a nuclear submarine to better deal with rising provocations from Pyongyang.

Meanwhile, Saenuri's floor leader Rep. Chung Jin-suk said there should be stern measures on corruption related to defense projects, as such actions can be considered as treasonous acts against the country and the people.

He then said having secretive contacts with Pyongyang is also a treacherous act.

Chung's remarks are apparently aimed at the latest scandal surrounding Moon Jae-in, a presidential hopeful from the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea.

A memoir by a former foreign minister recently showed Seoul abstained from the 2007 UN resolution on North Korea's human rights after hearing Pyongyang's opinion, and that Moon was involved in the process. (Yonhap)