Addis Ababa, September 3, 2021(Walta) South Korea is in the final stages of developing a surface-to-surface ballistic missile as powerful as a tactical nuclear warhead, Yonhap news agency reported, as the country unveiled budget proposals aimed at bolstering its defenses against North Korea.
According to the report published on Thursday, the new weapon can carry a warhead of up to three tonnes with a flight range of 350 to 400 km (217 to 248 miles).
The missile is designed to destroy underground missile facilities and bases by penetrating underground tunnels to effectively nullify nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) ahead of their launches. The report said it can also reach all areas of North Korea if fired from around the inter-Korean border.
The project went ahead after the full lifting of US-imposed restrictions on missile development.
“We will develop stronger, longer-range, and more precise missiles so as to exercise deterrence and achieve security and peace on the Korean Peninsula,” the South Korean government said in a statement.
In its defense blueprint for 2022 to 2026, the defense ministry said it would develop new missiles “with significantly enhanced destructive power”, upgrade missile defense systems, and deploy new interceptors against long-range artillery.
The missile would be the latest in a tit-for-tat conventional missile race between the two Koreas.