South Korea has displayed its strongest ballistic missile for the primary time at an annual navy parade that alerts the nation’s readiness to reply to threats from North Korea.
The Hyunmoo-5, which analysts say is able to carrying an 8-ton standard warhead that may penetrate deep into the earth and destroy underground bunkers in North Korea, was the centerpiece of the Armed Forces Day parade at a base Seoul air pressure, which additionally included some 5,300 troops, 340 kinds of navy gear and flying plane.
A second, smaller parade came about on the streets of Seoul, drawing giant crowds.
“If North Korea makes an attempt to make use of nuclear weapons, it can face a decided and overwhelming response from our navy and the [South Korea]-American alliance,” President Yoon Suk-yeol instructed 1000’s of troopers who gathered on the base on Tuesday. “That day would be the finish of the North Korean regime.”
“The North Korean regime should abandon the phantasm that nuclear weapons will shield them,” Yoon mentioned.
Since taking workplace in 2022, Yoon has revived the custom of annual navy parades as a part of his “peace by power” technique and has endorsed a stronger navy alliance with the USA in addition to nearer cooperation. between Seoul, Washington and Tokyo.
This 12 months’s parade additionally included a flyover by a United States B-1B strategic bomber for the primary time, whereas the US Eighth Military Band and a Stryker armored brigade additionally participated.
Dubbed a “monster missile” by South Korean media, the Hyunmoo-5 was efficiently examined final 12 months.
The navy launched the weapon because the “Hyunmoo ultra-high-power ballistic missile,” which was mounted on two nine-axle transporter, erector, and launcher (TEL) autos.
The Hyunmoo-5 is assessed as short-range, but when topped with a 1-ton warhead (typical of ballistic missiles), its vary can exceed 5,000 kilometers (3,107 miles), in line with Yu Yong-weon, a parliament lawmaker. from South Korea. protection committee.
Yoon’s workplace mentioned the missile performs a key position within the nation’s “three-axis” protection system aimed toward neutralizing North Korea’s nuclear provocations, together with conflict plans that decision for pre-emptive strikes if needed.
Hours earlier than the ceremony, Kim Kang Il, North Korea’s vice protection minister, criticized the deliberate B-1B flight and likewise accused Washington of finishing up a “reckless navy bluff” by not too long ago sending a nuclear-powered submarine to South Korea.
Final month, North Korea launched photos of its uranium enrichment facility. It has additionally continued to periodically conduct weapons check launches, defying worldwide sanctions.
