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Mon, August 15, 2022 | 06:04
-------------------------
NK drones land Kim in hot water
北 소형 무인기 대응한 우리 軍의 대책은
Posted : 2014-04-07 17:23
Updated : 2014-04-07 20:10
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Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, second from right, speaks during a meeting of top military commanders at the Joints Chiefs of Staff in Seoul, Monday. He stressed tighter vigilance against threats from North Korea's small unmanned aerial vehicles. Second from left is JCS Chairman Adm. Choi Yun-hee. / Yonhap
Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin, second from right, speaks during a meeting of top military commanders at the Joints Chiefs of Staff in Seoul, Monday. He stressed tighter vigilance against threats from North Korea's small unmanned aerial vehicles. Second from left is JCS Chairman Adm. Choi Yun-hee. / Yonhap

Defense minister faces criticism for slack military readiness

By Kang Seung-woo


Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin finds himself with few allies.

President Park Geun-hye rapped the military Monday over North Korea's recent unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone, intrusions.

Lawmakers also are moving to see somebody take responsibility.

A relic from the previous administration, Kim, known for his "spirit of a soldier," is hanging on so precariously that one small push may topple him from office.

Of course, he can feel a small sense of security in conventional military wisdom that it is rare to sack a commander in the middle of a war, with the drone controversy still raging.

Kim has turned reticent in recent days. On Monday, he didn't say much.

Regarding the three recently found suspected North Korean UAVs, Park said, "Drones appear to have spied all over us, but our military didn't know about it."

She ordered that countermeasures be drawn up.

"We should take it seriously. North Korea has fired missiles and strengthened its reconnaissance," Park said.

With the North's drones emerging as a new security threat, the military has been acting as a Monday morning quarterback.

Kim held a meeting of top military commanders and ordered toughened vigilance to spot such drones.

"If North Korea developed the small unmanned aerial aircraft for reconnaissance purposes to enhance its relatively weak surveillance capability, it is expected to develop drones for secret infiltration and terrorism purposes in the future," Kim said.

"We should strengthen our military readiness to be able to monitor, detect, identify and strike (the drones) with existing military assets along the border."

As part of its anti-drone efforts, the defense ministry plans to induce low-altitude surveillance radar and anti-aircraft guns.

As the North's drones were found to have "cruised" the South's airspace, there is growing criticism of the defense minister for slack military discipline.

"Accountability must be demanded for all the fatal problems, including the absence of relevant intelligence, failure to be on guard, false reporting, flip-flopping and confusion," Rep. Shim Jae-chul of the ruling Saenuri Party said during a party meeting.

Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, co-leader of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, called for a thorough investigation and punishment for all those responsible.

"It's been revealed that three drones invaded our airspace and crashed in the past six months," he said during a party meeting. "We don't know how many drones have come and gone, hundreds or thousands of times."

However, the defense ministry said it is not appropriate to call someone to account because the North's small drone was only recently developed, with the South's military unable to deal with it.

"It is not trying to avoid responsibility, because we are aggressively set to handle a new threat," ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said in a briefing.

Along with the drone case, Minister Kim's involvement in allegations that the Cyber Command attempted to interfere in the presidential election in 2012 is also putting him in the hot seat.


北 소형 무인기 대응한 우리 軍의 대책은

군 당국은 7일 전군 주요지휘관회의에서 북한의 소형 무인기를 '새로운 위협'이라고 평가하고 다각적인 대응책을 마련하기로 했다.

국방부의 한 관계자는 '이번에 발견된 정찰용 소형 무인기는 별다른 위협이 되지 않지만 공격용으로 발전하면 위협이 될 것으로 평가했다'고 밝혔다.

이 관계자는 '우선 현존 전력을 최대한 활용해 감시, 탐지, 식별, 타격할 수 있는 대비태세를 강화하기로 했다'고 밝혔다.

현재 있는 저고도레이더로는 육군이 운용하는 TPS-830K 등이 있다. 소형 무인기를 탐지하는데 한계가 있지만 이동형인 TPS-830K를 국가 중요시설에 추가 배치하는 방안이 검토되고 있다.

군 당국은 또 전방경계 강화를 위해 열상감시장비(TOD)와 다기능관측경 등의 감시장비를 보강하고 육안 감시도 강화하기로 했다.

군의 한 관계자는 '북한 무인기에 대비해 감시 및 경계태세를 강화했다'며 '무인기를 타격할 수 있는 벌컨포 등 대공화기의 대비태세도 강화했다'고 밝혔다.

현재의 저고도레이더로는 이번에 추락한 소형 무인기를 탐지하기 어렵다는 판단에 따라 첨단 저고도레이더를 해외 구매하는 방안도 추진되고 있다.

군 당국은 레이더 제조업체인 이스라엘 라다와 영국 플렉스텍의 저고도레이더를 구매하는 방안을 우선 검토 중인 것으로 알려졌다.

소형 무인기 기준 탐지거리는 라다 제품이 10㎞, 플렉스텍 제품이 1∼2㎞로 알려졌다. 대당 예상단가는 라다 제품이 약 10억원, 플렉스텍 제품이 3억∼4억원이다.

저고도레이더와 연동된 타격체계를 보완하는 방안도 검토 중이다.

군은 최근 낮은 고도로 침투하는 북한 항공기 요격을 위해 30㎜ 자주 대공포 체계인 '비호'(K-30)에 휴대용 미사일 '신궁'을 결합한 유도탄 탑재 복합대공화기를 개발했다.

기존 대공화기인 벌컨포는 타격 가능한 유효고도가 1.5㎞에 불과해 사거리가 더 긴 30㎜ 복합대공화기를 확충하는 방안이 검토되는 것으로 전해졌다.

또 크기가 작은 목표물의 명중률을 높이기 위해 하나의 탄에서 여러 개의 탄이 분리되는 '스카이실드 35 어헤드'와 '3P'의 해외구매도 주목을 받고 있다.

대공포에 비해 부수적인 피해 발생 가능성이 거의 없는 레이저 무기를 도입하는 방안도 검토되는 것으로 알려졌다.

군 관계자는 '레이저 무기는 낙탄 및 파편 피해가 거의 없어 대도시의 국가 중요시설을 방어하는데 효과적일 수 있다'고 말했다. (연합뉴스)
Emailksw@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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