North Korea's most dangerous weapon is not nuclear

South Korea admits that North Korea's mini submarines and antiquated aircraft are not nuclear weapons but the most threatening force for the US and South Korea.

Airborne hazards

Although South Korea is almost absolutely confident in its control of its airspace, North Korean special forces still have a means to "run rampant" and infiltrate South Korean airspace as if it were no man's land.

South Korean media noted the details, recently the Korean Central Television reported on an infiltration parachute training of the An-2 transport aircraft. Although this type of aircraft is old, its features are very special, it is not easy for ground radar to detect it.

North Korean soldiers parachute from an An-2 aircraft.

The An-2 is made of alloy and wood, the aircraft is very light, has the ability to scatter electromagnetic waves, making it able to evade radar systems, and even if the radar catches it, it can be mistaken for a flock of birds.

The An-2 has a speed of 215km/h and a maximum range of 1100km. But the most important point is that its flight ceiling is only 170 - 215m. The extremely low flight ceiling will turn it into an "alien" to the air defense force of the US - Korea coalition.

Fear from the bottom of the sea

Along with the fleet of antiquated aircraft, North Korea's easternmost mini-submarine fleet is making South Korea and the US really uneasy. Mini-submarines can carry out many different activities such as: Sabotaging enemy sea traffic routes; transporting special forces to land on beaches and islands; reconnaissance, neutralizing minefields and laying mines to block; sabotaging port facilities and other important targets.

North Korea’s large, albeit aging, submarine force also poses a huge threat to South Korea. According to US military experts, North Korea currently has more than 60 outdated submarines, most of which are Sang-O and Una class mini-submarines.

Based on the Una design, the North Korean navy has researched and developed a new class of mini submarines, the Sang-O. Currently, the North Korean naval task force has about 40 of these ships.

North Korea's midget submarines are causing concern not only in South Korea.

North Korean mini-submarines are especially dangerous in land infiltration operations. They can sneak in, drop commandos ashore, then return at a predetermined time to pick them up. Their small size and ability to operate in shallow waters make them easy to approach the shore in remote areas, making it difficult for the enemy to defend against them.

Typical of this type of operation is the event on September 15, 1996, when a North Korean Sang-O class mini submarine secretly infiltrated the South Korean coast and dropped three groups of special forces ashore to conduct reconnaissance operations at South Korean bases. The North Korean Sang-O class mini submarine is 34m long and has a displacement of 370 tons when submerged.

Two days later, the submarine returned to its original location to retrieve the commando group. The mission was almost successful, but unfortunately, the submarine ran aground, so the North Korean commandos had to move to land, where they were discovered and pursued by South Korea.

Korean media said that these not-so-modern classical weapons are the nemesis of the modern weapons that the US and South Korea often claim to be the most advanced in the world. If the US and South Korea do not have countermeasures, the border defense system will be easily penetrated.

According to Baodatviet