By Jun Ji-hye
The military is considering buying 90 more Taurus cruise missiles that have the capability of destroying North Korea's underground nuclear and missile facilities, sources said Tuesday.
In 2013, Seoul decided to purchase 170 Taurus air-to-ground missiles manufactured by the German-Swedish joint venture Taurus Systems, which cost around 2 billion won ($1.8 million) each.
Among them, 60 missiles are scheduled to be deployed by the end of this year, and others early next year.
The military is planning to buy 90 more as Pyongyang has advanced its nuclear and missile capabilities, the sources said.
"The Air Force has raised the need for the additional purchase," a source said. "After talks at the Joint Chiefs of Staff about the necessity, the Defense Acquisition Program Executive Committee will make a final decision."
The GPS-guided Taurus KEPD 350K has a range of 500 kilometers and can perform deep penetration missions with pinpoint accuracy, making it ideal for taking out hard targets such as underground installations and bridges, according to the missile maker.
If the missiles are launched above Daejeon, where military headquarters are located, they can hit an underground bunker in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, according to the Air Force.
Once operationally deployed, South Korean pilots will be able to hit strategic targets such as nuclear and missile bases with great precision without entering North Korean airspace, the Air Force added.
Along with the Taurus missiles, the military is also reportedly considering a Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II), developed by Raytheon Company, a U.S. defense contractor.
The weapon is an all-weather bomb that enhances fighters' capabilities when visibility is limited, according to the company.
The military is considering buying 90 more Taurus cruise missiles that have the capability of destroying North Korea's underground nuclear and missile facilities, sources said Tuesday.
In 2013, Seoul decided to purchase 170 Taurus air-to-ground missiles manufactured by the German-Swedish joint venture Taurus Systems, which cost around 2 billion won ($1.8 million) each.
Among them, 60 missiles are scheduled to be deployed by the end of this year, and others early next year.
The military is planning to buy 90 more as Pyongyang has advanced its nuclear and missile capabilities, the sources said.
"The Air Force has raised the need for the additional purchase," a source said. "After talks at the Joint Chiefs of Staff about the necessity, the Defense Acquisition Program Executive Committee will make a final decision."
The GPS-guided Taurus KEPD 350K has a range of 500 kilometers and can perform deep penetration missions with pinpoint accuracy, making it ideal for taking out hard targets such as underground installations and bridges, according to the missile maker.
If the missiles are launched above Daejeon, where military headquarters are located, they can hit an underground bunker in the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, according to the Air Force.
Once operationally deployed, South Korean pilots will be able to hit strategic targets such as nuclear and missile bases with great precision without entering North Korean airspace, the Air Force added.
Along with the Taurus missiles, the military is also reportedly considering a Small Diameter Bomb II (SDB II), developed by Raytheon Company, a U.S. defense contractor.
The weapon is an all-weather bomb that enhances fighters' capabilities when visibility is limited, according to the company.
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