The South Korean military will enhance its special operations capabilities to take out North Korean leadership in the event of a nuclear crisis, reports Yonhap News Agency.
“The Army is seeking to have a special operations unit capable of infiltrating enemy territory, completing its given mission, and coming back in one piece,” Army Chief of Staff Jang Jun-kyu said during a parliamentary audit at the Army’s Kyeryongdae military headquarters Wednesday.
The plan is part of Seoul’s Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) strategy, which was developed in response to the growing nuclear threat from North Korea. The KMPR is a plan for the elimination of Kim Jong Un, other state leaders, North Korea’s nuclear facilities, and other important military installations if a North Korean nuclear assault on the South appears imminent.
The South Korean military identified the MH-47 series helicopter, a heavy-lift transport helicopter, as ideal for special operations. Equipped with airborne refueling equipment and on-board radar, the choppers could carry around 40 special operations soldiers 372 miles into North Korean territory. Jang also indicated that the Army is upgrading its C-130 cargo planes and other transport aircraft. The military plans to acquire compact satellite links and advanced small tactical arms as well.
The aim is to have the special operations units ready for combat by 2018; however, there are indications that deployments may be delayed. Rep. Baek Seung-joo said that the new units and equipment should be deployed “as soon as possible.”
Special operations missions could include decapitation strikes on North Korea’s young dictator Kim Jong Un and other top officials, as well as the elimination of some of the North’s key nuclear facilities.
While Seoul and Washington are both working to rein in North Korea with sanctions, drills, and discussions of preemptive strike options, South Korea is also looking into independent defense options, the Army Special Welfare Command revealed.
“We are now heavily dependent on the U.S. for special operations involving aviation elements. In order to conduct independent operations, we will improve the functions of our own assets,” Chief Commander of Army Aviation Operations Command Major General Jang Kwang-hyun explained.
South Korea appears to be preparing to fight its way out of North Korea’s nuclear shadow as Pyongyang’s provocations become more frequent.
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