[FOCUS] S. Korea takes unusual action to respond with missile to N. Korean missile

By Lim Chang-won Posted : September 15, 2017, 11:44 Updated : September 15, 2017, 16:34

A picture released by South Korea's army shows the launch of a Hyunmoo ballistic missile to counter North Korea's missile launch.[Yonhap News Photo]


On a prior order from President Moon Jae-in, South Korea's military took rare and strong steps to fire a ballistic missile in a simulated strike on the origin of North Korea's missile launch that followed tough UN sanctions prompted by Pyongyang's fresh and powerful nuclear test.

The South fired a Hyunmoo-2A missile into waters off the east coast, six minutes after the North launched a ballistic missile that flew the about 3,700 kilometers (2,294 miles) over the territory of Japan after reaching a maximum altitude of 770 km., 

In his prior order, Moon has allowed South Korean troops to respond with an immediate missile, and the range of the Hyunmoo-2 targeting the origin of provocations was adjusted to 250 km.  

It's the first time South Korea has taken such a swift and stern military action against North Korean missile launches. Originally, two Hyunmoo missiles were launched with one hitting a designated target off the east coast and the other crashing into waters several seconds after its launch.

The North Korean missile was launched from a base near Pyongyang at 6:57 am (22:57 GMT), according to the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Japan responded with anger and panic, insisting the missile overflew its northern territory of Hokkaido.

South Korean and US military authorities are analyzing the type of the projectile, which appeared to an intermediate range ballistic missile called Hwasong-12 with a maximum range of 5,000 km.

On August 29, a Hwasong-12 missile, launched from the Sunan airfield in Pyongyang, overflew the northern territory of Japan and splashed into nearby waters. It traveled more than 2,700 km at a maximum altitude of some 550 km, according to the South's defense ministry.

Friday's launch showed the longest distance, demonstrating North Korea's ability to attack Guam, although the Hawaii-based US Pacific Command said the North Korean missile did not pose a threat to the strategic island.

An earlier video uploaded by North Korea's state website showed a simulated Hwasong-12 missile attack on Guam after Pyongyang said it was always ready to make an "enveloping" fire around Guam with four Hwasong-12 missiles to contain the flight of US strategic bombers including B-1Bs capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

There are about 28,000 US troops stationed in South Korea. Extra US military assets and personnel come from abroad for regular joint drills that Washington and Seoul insist are purely defensive in nature, but which Pyongyang condemns as provocative rehearsals for an attack on the North.

A South Korean government statement condemned Friday's provocation as a grave threat to regional and international peace as well as the clear violation of a UN resolution. After chairing a National Security Council meeting, Moon called for "strong" action against North Korean missile and nuclear threats.

On September 4, South Korea fired a volley of missiles off the east coast in a simulated attack on North Korea's nuclear test site after President Moon Jae-in ordered strong military pressure against Pyongyang.
 

A South Korean ballistic missile is being launched in a simulated attack on the origin of North Korea's missile launch.[Yonhap News Photo]


The live-fire drill involved an unspecified number of Hyunmoo surface-to-surface ballistic missiles to demonstrate South Korea's ability to stage "a precise strike" against the origins of North Korean provocations.

The two Koreas have been locked in an arms race to develop missiles and other strategic weapons, with North Korea taking the upper hand in extending the range of ballistic missiles. South Korea has focused on guided systems with its inventory including the Hyunmoo-2A with a range of 300 km, the Hyunmoo-2B that can fly over 500 km, the Hyunmoo-2C with a range of 800 km, and the Hyunmoo-3 cruise missile with a range of 1,000 km.

South Korean missiles with precision strike have alarmed North Korea's leadership.

 
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