What on the Korean Peninsula concerns Russia most?

The United States has apparently decided to use North Korea’s May 14 missile launch to scare Russia. Almost immediately after the launch news broke, comments emerged that the missile landed 95 km from Vladivostok and that Russia now finally needs to understand what kind of threat North Korea poses. However, Russia’s response has been very restrained.

Photo: Reuters

As the Russian Defense Ministry later reported, the Russian missile defense system in the Far East tracked the missile almost from launch until it crashed. The missile did not pose a threat to Russia and fell into the sea 500 km from the Russian coast.

Russia has no reason to fear North Korean missiles, for a simple reason: in 2009, the first S-400 complexes were deployed in the Far East, capable of tracking and shooting down ballistic targets. At that time, the location of the deployment of these complexes was not determined, but at the end of 2015 it was known that the complexes were deployed around Vladivostok to protect the main base of the Pacific Fleet. At the same time, the S-400 can shoot down short-range and medium-range missiles (range 1000 - 5500 km), which is exactly the type of missile tested on May 14, 2017.

North Korea, of course, would not launch a missile attack on one of its few friendly countries. Even if a North Korean test launch went wrong, the missile veered off course and became a threat, it would be shot down immediately.

Russia’s biggest military concern is not North Korea’s missile launches, but the possibility of a regional or large-scale armed conflict on its borders. While Russia is not involved in the conflict, there is one situation that could require Russian intervention – if US troops were to land near the Russian-DPRK border to develop an attack and block the railway. However, Russia has the means to respond effectively.

In 2013 and 2014, large-scale military exercises were held in the Far East. For example, in 2013, the exercises involved 160,000 people, 1,000 tanks, 130 aircraft and 70 warships. That is, almost all of the army and almost the entire Pacific Fleet. The forces were deployed and prepared for combat operations for only 2-3 days. Therefore, any attempt to land troops on Russian territory near the border with the DPRK will be met with a worthy response.

Firstly, the enemy's group of ships will be detected and attacked by Russian aircraft, which are constantly patrolling the Sea of ​​Japan. Secondly, the missile ships of the Pacific Fleet's surface brigade (including 11 missile ships equipped with anti-ship missiles "Mosquito") and the 19th submarine brigade, consisting of 7 ships, will strike. Thirdly, in the Far East there are the world's most advanced long-range precision strike missile systems "Iskander-M".

Fourth, Russia can deploy large ground forces, with all types of weapons for encirclement operations and the destruction of the largest landing groups. Attacks and provocations, regardless of where they come from, will be easily repelled.

So before you get upset about Russia's calls for restraint in the wake of North Korea's missile launches and nuclear tests, remember that Russia could, if it wanted to, avoid getting involved in the conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

Meanwhile, in the event of a new Korean War, the number of victims of the partners - South Korea and North Korea - will be simply incalculable. And it is this perspective, and not some imaginary threat, that will define and will determine Russia's position on the nuclear issue and other issues on the Korean Peninsula.

According to Sputnik