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Mon, August 15, 2022 | 05:58
Defense
[Exclusive] Seoul to deploy Israeli guided missiles on Yeonpyeong in Feb.
Posted : 2011-01-04 15:40
Updated : 2011-01-04 15:40
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Spike anti-tank guided missile

Attack copters to be stationed on the island

By Jung Sung-ki

South Korea’s military plans to deploy Israeli-built precision-guided anti-tank missiles to Yeonpyeong Island next month near the western sea border with North Korea, a government source said Tuesday.

The deployment of the GPS-guided “Spike” missile is part of efforts to help achieve an early fortification of Yeonpyeong and four other islands near the border ― Northern Limit Line (NLL) ― vulnerable to North Korean provocations, the source told The Korea Times.

In its year-end report to President Lee Myung-bak last month, the Ministry of National Defense unveiled a plan to beef up the security of the five islands near the border including deployment of the missiles. The ministry said that it would create a West Sea defense command, comprising 12,000 troops from the three services, to that end.

On top of that, the military has also decided to permanently deploy at least four AH-1S Cobra helicopters to Yeonpyeong in a bid to thwart North Korea’s possible maritime infiltration of the border islands.

“The Cobra helicopters will be shipped to the island soon and stationed there to deter a North Korean infiltration,” said the source.

On Nov. 23, the North fired about 170 shells from its coastal artillery guns and multiple rocket launchers onto Yeonpyeong, killing four South Koreans. The South failed to strike the enemy artillery guns precisely because most of the North’s weapons are hidden in mountain tunnels or caves.

The Spike missile, developed by Israel’s Rafael Advance Defense System, is said to be capable of neutralizing such enemy strongholds, as the missile is equipped with a high-explosive warhead and automatic self-guidance systems led by an imaging infrared seeker.

Last month, Seoul’s National Assembly endorsed nearly 90 billion won to buy Spike systems. The Assembly also approved budget plans to acquire advanced weapons systems, such as artillery-detecting radar, bunker-busting bombs and precision air-to-ground missiles, to be used in defending the border islands.

“Scores of Spike units will be procured from the Israeli military under a government-to-government negotiation in an effort to speed up the deployment of high-tech weapons systems on Yeonpyeong,” said the source.

Originally, the Seoul government sought to purchase the missile system from the manufacturer. But the manufacturer said it didn’t have enough in its inventory, so it would take at least a year to deliver new products to South Korea, according to the source.



[단독] 이스라엘 ‘스파이크’ 미사일 2월 연평도 배치 완료

정성기 기자

이스라엘제 정밀 타격 대전차 미사일이 이르면 다음달 중 연평도에 배치될 예정인 것으로 확인됐다.

스파이크라 불리는 이 미사일의 연평도 배치는 지난 11월 북한의 포격을 받은 연평도를 포함한 서해 5도의 조기 요새화를 위한 움직임으로 해석된다.

국방부는 지난달 대통령 업무 보고에서 서해 5도의 방어와 조기 요새화를 위해서 서해 사령부 창설은 물론 첨단 무기 체계들을 배치하는 계획을 발표한 바 있다.

이와 관련 군은 북한의 해상 침투 차단을 위해 AH-1S 코브라 공격 헬기 4대 가량을 연평도에 상주 배치하는 안도 확정한 것으로 확인 됐다.

한 정부 소식통은 “코브라 헬기는 곧 배로 연평도로 이송될 예정”라며 “북한의 침투에 대비한 배치”라고 전했다.

지난 11월23일 연평도 포격 당시 남측은 대부분 갱도에 배치된 북한의 해안포를 무력화 시키는데 실패했다.

이스라엘의 라파엘 社가 개발한 스파이크 미사일은 고폭 탄두와 적외선 센서 등의 자동 제어 시스템이 탑재되어 있어 갱도진지를 파괴하는데 효과적인 것으로 알려진다.

소식통은 “수 기의 스파이크 체계와 수십여발의 미사일을 우선적으로 들여올 예정이며 서해 5도 조기 요새화를 위해서 정부 대 정부 협상으로 이스라엘 군에 배치된 물량을 인도 받기로 했다”라고 말했다.

그는 “당초 정부는 라파엘 社로부터 직접 구매를 추진했으나 업체 측이현재 재고 물량이 없는 관계로 주문 후 최소 1년은 걸려야 새 물품을 인도할 수 있다라고 밝힘에 따라 이스라엘 군의 확보 물량을 인도 받기로 했다”라고 덧붙였다.
Emailgallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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