South Korea has unveiled its strongest ballistic missiles for the primary time in an annual navy parade, signaling the nation’s readiness to take care of threats from North Korea.
Analysts say the Hyunmoo-5 is able to carrying an 8-ton typical warhead that may penetrate deep into the earth and destroy North Korea’s underground bunkers. and airplane demonstrations.
A second, smaller march occurred on the streets of Seoul and drew giant crowds.
“If North Korea makes an attempt to make use of nuclear weapons, it is going to face a resolute and overwhelming response from our navy and North Korea. [South Korea]- American alliance,” President Yoon Seok-yeol advised hundreds of troopers gathered on the base on Tuesday. “That day would be the finish of the North Korean regime.”
“The North Korean regime should hand over the phantasm that nuclear weapons will shield them,” Yoon mentioned.
Since taking workplace in 2022, Yoon Eun-hye has revived the custom of holding annual navy parades as a part of her “peace by means of power” technique and has supported a stronger navy alliance with the US and nearer cooperation between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo .
This yr’s parade additionally included for the primary time a flight show by U.S. B-1B strategic bombers, and the U.S. Eighth Military Band and an armored Stryker brigade additionally participated.
Hyunmoo-5, dubbed the “monster missile” by Korean media, was efficiently examined final yr.
The weapon, which the navy calls an “ultra-high-power Xuanwu ballistic missile,” is mounted on two nine-axle transport-installed launcher (TEL) automobiles.
Yu Yong-weon, a member of the South Korean Nationwide Meeting, mentioned the Hyunmoo-5 is assessed as a short-range missile, but when geared up with a one-ton warhead, a typical ballistic missile, its vary can exceed 5,000 kilometers (3,107 miles).
Yoon’s workplace mentioned the missile performs a key function within the nation’s “three-axis” protection system, which is designed to neutralize North Korea’s nuclear provocations, together with conflict plans that require a preemptive strike if mandatory.
Hours earlier than the ceremony, North Korea’s Deputy Protection Minister Kim Kang-il criticized the B-1B program’s flight show and accused Washington of a “reckless navy bluff” in its latest dispatch of a nuclear-powered submarine to South Korea.
Final month, North Korea launched photographs of its uranium enrichment services. It additionally continues to conduct common weapons assessments in defiance of worldwide sanctions.
