South Korea’s powerful missile reach last stage developments nullifying nuclear missiles

South Korea is in the final stages of developing a surface-to-surface ballistic missile as powerful as a tactical nuclear warhead as a defense against North Korea.

The project went ahead after the full lifting of US-imposed restrictions on missile development.The three-ton missile is designed to destroy underground facilities by penetrating tunnels will be able to effectively nullify nuclear launches, ahead of their launches. The report said it can also reach all areas of North Korea if fired from around the inter-Korean border.

According to the report published on Thursday, the new weapon can carry a warhead of up to three tonnes with a flight range of 350 to 400 km (217 to 248 miles).

“We will develop stronger, longer-range and more precise missiles so as to exercise deterrence and achieve security and peace on the Korean Peninsula,” the South Korean government said in a statement.

In its defense blueprint for 2022 to 2026, the defense ministry said it would develop new missiles “with significantly enhanced destructive power”, upgrade missile defense systems and deploy new interceptors against long-range artillery.

The missile would be the latest in a tit-for-tat conventional missile race between the two Koreas.

‘Shutting provocations’

In 2020, South Korea announced its new Hyunmoo-4 short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) could carry a 2-tonne warhead, while in March North Korea tested an SRBM that it said could deliver a 2.5-tonne payload. The Hyunmoo-4 is South Korea’s largest missile.

“Following the termination of the guidelines, we will exercise deterrence against potential threats and improve strike capabilities against main targets,” the defence ministry statement said.

Before the decade is out, Asia will be bristling with conventional missiles that fly farther and faster, hit harder, and are more sophisticated than ever before – a stark and dangerous change from recent years, analysts, diplomats, and military officials have said.

Overall, South Korea’s defence blueprint calls for spending 315.2 trillion won (US$273bn) in the next five years, a 5.8 percent year-on-year increase on average, as it continues to bolster its defences amid threats from Pyongyang.