North Korea tests antiship Styx missiles

North Korea has recently tested antiship missiles in the Yellow Sea, a government source said yesterday.

“In October and earlier this month, North Korea flew its IL-28 bomber to test antiship missiles in the Yellow Sea waters,” the source said, adding that the missiles are reportedly the modified versions of the North’s Styx ground-to-ship missiles.

The source added that South Korea was also preparing countermeasures against potential North Korean provocations against the South’s vessels.

“Should the North send IL-28s above the Northern Limit Line [NLL] and fire antiship missiles, they will present major threats to our patrol ships and destroyers operating south of the line,” the source said. The NLL serves as a de facto maritime border between the Koreas. “The South Korean military is bolstering its air defense from the ground and from vessels.”

South Korea’s indigenous Chunma missile, a guided ground-to-air missile, may respond to IL-28 bombers, experts say. Chunma missiles can detect and pursue fighter jets up to 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) away, and they can intercept airplanes flying 5 kilometers above ground within 10 seconds, according to experts. Sources say the South added Chunma missiles to the border islands of Yeonpyeong and Baengnyeong last year, after the North bombed Yeonpyeong in November 2010.

Yonhap