South Korea develops 2-ton warhead missile to counter North Korea

With the warhead weight limit removed, South Korea's new missiles will be capable of hitting any North Korean target.

The South Korean military is planning to develop a new missile capable of destroying underground military facilities and command centers in North Korea, amid rising tensions on the peninsula over Pyongyang's nuclear program, the Telegraph reported yesterday.

South Korean media said the missile, called "Frankenmissile," will be equipped with a two-ton warhead, allowing South Korea to attack any fortified target on North Korean territory without using the US military's specialized bunker-buster bombs.

According to the Korea Herald, information about the Frankenmissile missile was revealed by military officials just days after President Moon Jae-in and his US counterpart Donald Trump agreed to remove an agreement limiting the warhead weight of South Korea's missiles signed in 2012.

Under the agreement, Seoul is limited to a maximum warhead weight of 500 kg on ballistic missiles. The agreement has significantly limited the deterrence capabilities of South Korean missiles in recent times, despite their ranges of up to 800 km.

"The development of the new missile will significantly enhance South Korea's response capabilities against North Korea. With the new ballistic missile, South Korea can attack almost all underground facilities in North Korea," said professor Kwon Yong-soo, of the Korea National Defense University.

South Korea also plans to establish a special forces brigade tasked with assassinating North Korean leadership in the event of war. The brigade is expected to be launched on December 1 and will operate in conjunction with the US Navy SEAL Team 6, the unit that killed Osama bin Laden.

According to VNE