By Yi Whan-woo
Defense Minister Han Min-koo said Sunday that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system can intercept North Korea’s submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBM).
Downplaying concerns over THAAD’s counterbalancing capability against attacks from submarines, the minister said the advanced missile defense system is capable of intercepting any North Korean missiles targeting South Korea regardless of their range and trajectories.
“North Korea may fire an SLBM with a range of 2,000 kilometers by adjusting its angle if it were launched from the northeastern East Sea,” Han said in a TV appearance. “It will be possible for THAAD to intercept the SLBM under such a scenario. And we’ll detect and nullify the SLBM before it is launched.”
Han’s remarks came after North Korea test-fired an SLBM, Saturday.
The firing was seen as a move to show off Pyongyang’s technological progress in SLBMs to protest a joint decision made between South Korea and the U.S. to deploy a THAAD battery on the Korean Peninsula, Friday.
Han said THAAD can also detect and shoot down Musudan intermediate-range mobile-launched ballistic missiles (IRBM) although it mainly targets intercepting short- and medium-range ballistic missiles with a range of up to 3,000 kilometers. A Musudan missile is estimated to have a maximum range of between 3,000 and 3,500 kilometers, and is believed to have been developed to strike U.S. naval and air bases on Guam.
“THAAD can still counter a Musudan missile if Pyongyang decides to use it against South Korea by firing at a high angle with an adjustment in its fuel capacity,” Han said.
The defense chief said THAAD, once in operation, is expected to provide a layered defensive shield along with the Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC) low-altitude missile defense system currently deployed by the South Korean military.
“PAC missiles are to protect limited areas, such as major security-related sites, while the THAAD battery will be able to cover up to half of South Korean territory,” he said.
However, he admitted that THAAD will not able to strike North Korea’s long-range ballistic missiles aimed at the U.S. mainland, saying “The areas to be covered by THAAD will be limited to South Korean soil.”
Han said South Korean Air Force’s Operations Command will be in charge of the THAAD’s operation during non-emergency situations while the Seventh U.S. Air Force will take over in the event of a war.
Regarding China’s protest against deploying THAAD, Han said its AN/TPY-2 radar is “optimized” at a range between 600 to 800 kilometers and will only be used to monitor North Korea. Beijing and Moscow have protested that the THAAD’s long-range radar, which has a potential range of 2,000 kilometers, can be used to spy on their military activities.
He put aside concerns over possible health and safety risks associated with electromagnetic radiation emitted by the AN/TPY-2 radar.
“Its safe distance is 100 meters and such a distance is shorter than those of other military assets operated by South Korea,” he said.
North Korea’s SLBM launch, Saturday, took place at the coastal town of Sinpo, South Hamgyong Province at around 11:30 a.m., according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).
The JCS said the missile only flew 10 kilometers and exploded in midair after being ejected from a 2,000-ton submarine launch tube.
The U.S. Strategic Command also said that the missile was tracked over the sea between South Korea and Japan, where it apparently fell.
Critics said the test revealed similar mechanical problems as shown in a previous test in April.
They speculated that the secretive state hurriedly carried out the test to protest the decision to deploy THAAD.
“It’s possible it rescheduled the date for a launch earlier than expected,” said Yang Uk, a senior research fellow at the Korea Defense and Security Forum. “It’s certain that Pyongyang will step up its efforts in developing an SLBM and carry out test-launches more often.”
Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies, agreed.
“North Korea is trying to propagandize SLBM as an effective means to carry a nuclear warhead even if THAAD is deployed,” he said.
Some critics have been claiming that THAAD’s radar only offers a 120-degree azimuth and that it will be vulnerable if a North Korean submarine infiltrates into rear areas of the South Korean waters and launches an attack.
South Korea, the U.S. and Japan denounced the SLBM launch as a violation of U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.