|
. | . |
|
by Staff Writers Seoul (AFP) May 19, 2015 South Korea's military said it was holding live-fire drills on Tuesday off its country's east coast involving anti-ship missiles and jet fighters after North Korea conducted a submarine-launched ballistic missile test condemned by Seoul and Washington. The joint naval and air force exercise involves some 20 warships as well as an unspecified number of jet fighters, Seoul's defence ministry deputy spokesman Na Seung-Yong told reporters. "The ongoing live-fire drills involving anti-ship guided missiles and other strategic training for navy and air force troops...are aimed at quashing the North's intention for provocations at sea," Na said. The exercise came as military tension rose on the Korean peninsula following the North's launch of the SLBM, a weapon feared to take the country's nuclear threat to a new level. The North's state media announced on May 8 that the new SLBM had been tested under the personal supervision of leader Kim Jong-Un. The test, if confirmed, is a violation of a United Nations ban on the North's use or testing of ballistic missile technology, imposed after a series of missile and nuclear tests. Tension further escalated after Pyongyang followed up the SLBM launch by test-firing three anti-ship cruise missiles and held a live-fire drill near the disputed sea border off its west coast. Seoul condemned the SLBM test as "worrisome" and US Secretary of State John Kerry warned on Monday of the possibility of imposing fresh sanctions on the isolated state. A fully-developed SLBM capability would allow the nuclear-armed North to deploy weapons far beyond the Korean peninsula. The South Korean military estimated last week that it could take up to five years before Pyongyang is able to deploy a fully operational submarine armed with ballistic missiles.
Related Links Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
|
|
The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service. |