Controversy rises over Yoon's preemptive strike remarks
Yoon Suk-yeol, the presidential candidate of the main opposition conservative People Power Party, answers questions from other participants in a policy debate at the Korea Press Center in central Seoul, Thursday. Joint Press Corps
By Jung Da-min
Tensions are rising over main opposition conservative People Power Party (PPP) presidential candidate Yoon Suk-yeol's remarks that South Korea would have no choice but to carry out a preemptive strike to prevent North Korea's possible missile attack if necessary, following the North's latest launch of what it called a hypersonic missile.
Critics including ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung called Yoon's remarks irresponsible, as support for a preemptive strike against the North could escalate tensions not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in the East Asian region as well as the international community.
However, others said further discussions are needed on the matter, as a preemptive strike could be necessary in an emergency situation where a nuclear missile attack from the North could be imminent.
Hours after the North's missile test, Tuesday, Yoon said South Korea would not be able to intercept a missile from the North if it flies faster than Mach 5, which leaves Seoul only one option, to launch a preemptive strike, through the country's Kill Chain preemptive strike system.
The Kill Chain system is at the forefront of the military's three-axis air defense system along with the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) plan.
"If a missile of Mach 5 or faster is launched (from North Korea), and if it is equipped with a nuclear warhead, it would take less than one minute for the missile to reach the metropolitan area (of South Korea) and cause mass destruction. Intercepting it is virtually impossible," Yoon said during his New Year press conference in Seoul.
“In such a situation, there is no other way to prevent it other than a preemptive strike called the Kill Chain.”
This Jan. 12 footage from North Korea's state-run Korean Central Television shows a test launch of what the North said was a hypersonic missile, launched from Jagang Province a day earlier. Yonhap
DPK candidate Lee criticized Yoon for attempting to use North Korea's threats to rally support ahead of the March 9 presidential election.
“Kill Chain refers to a military strategy of striking a target when a weapon of mass destruction or a nuclear attack is obvious and imminent. It is not something that can be mentioned in such a situation like a test of a weapon or a projectile,” Lee said, holding a press conference to speak on the matter at the DPK headquarters in Seoul, Wednesday.
“If Yoon has brought up the issue without knowing this, he is truly ignorant. If Yoon insists on a preemptive strike even knowing the situation, it is an irresponsible act of pursuing his own political interests by holding national security hostage.”
Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling liberal Democratic Party of Korea, speaks during a policy conference at The Forest 6 in Seoul's Nowon District, Thursday. Joint Press Corps
The debate over how to respond to possible threats by the North's missiles came after the North conducted its third test launch of what it claimed was a hypersonic missile. The third and latest launch on Tuesday came just six days after the second one, with the first one being fired late last September.
Defense watchers said North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's attendance at the latest launch showed his confidence in the country's hypersonic missile technology capabilities.
They say much more debate is needed over the preemptive strike issue, as it not only involves the South Korean government but other neighboring countries, as well as the South's ally, the United States.