Joint Chiefs of Staff start unit to deal with North's threats

Defense

Published: 02 Jan. 2023, 16:03

Joint Chiefs of Staff start unit to deal with North's threats

Kim Seung-kyum, chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Korea, left, in discussion with Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, right, in a National Assembly meeting in Seoul on Dec. 28. [JANG JIN-YOUNG]

The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) started a dedicated unit to respond to military threats from North Korea.

The Chief Directorate of Countering Nuclear and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) will focus on responding to the North’s missile and nuclear threats and also develop South Korea’s so-called "K-3" deterrence strategy, according to the JCS.

The K-3 strategy, also known as the three-axis system, is comprised of the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike system, which is meant to detect and intercept North Korean missiles before they can be fired; the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system, which would destroy incoming missiles mid-air with a mixture of Patriot and Korean medium-range surface-to-air missiles; and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation plan (KMPR), which would target individuals in North Korea's leadership and military command.

The new unit is separate from four existing ones on intelligence, operations, strategic planning and military support.

“The Chief Directorate of Countering Nuclear and WMD will play a pivotal role in strengthening the Republic of Korea’s military's capabilities and posture to deter and respond to North Korean nuclear and missile threats,” Kim Seung-kyum, chief of the JCS, told the press on Monday.

It will work closely with South Korea’s Strategic Command, which is expected to be established in 2024 to control core military assets including Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers, Army Tactical Missile System surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and Hyunmoo-II and Hyunmoo-III missiles, and possibly cyberspace and outer space security assets.

North Korea fired 70 missiles in 2022, the highest number for a single year, and launched a short-range ballistic missile into the East Sea less than three hours into the New Year.

On Dec. 26, Pyongyang sent unmanned aerial vehicles into South Korean airspace, triggering temporary flight disruptions at Incheon and Gimpo airports and a failed operation by South Korea's military to shoot down the drones.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]