The South Korean military on Wednesday said the country is planning to strengthen its tailored deterrence along with the US against North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, local media said.
The South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in its annual parliamentary audit report said that Seoul is enhancing its attack and missile defense capabilities, Yonhap News Agency reported.
“North Korea continues to bolster its nuclear and missile capabilities, with the denuclearization talks having long-stalled,” the agency cited the JCS report.
“Facing multiple challenges such as the border closure and the worsening economic difficulties due to COVID-19, North Korea could undertake military provocations to tip the balance, though there is the possibility of dialogue,” it added.
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“In response, we will further develop the Korea-U.S. tailored deterrence strategies, and will beef up our strategic striking and missile defense capabilities by maximizing cutting-edge science technologies,” the JCS said, citing such assets as the F-35 fighter jets, the Cheongung II surface-to-air guided missile, and the submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM).
North and South Korea tensions escalate?
Last week, North Korea test-fired a newly developed anti-aircraft missile, as part of its series of missile launches in recent weeks that mounted tension in the Korean peninsula.
Days earlier, the North launched a new type of hypersonic missile, which came on the heels of firing two short-range ballistic missiles and a new long-range cruise missile.
North Korea fired a missile toward the sea off its east coast and accused the U.S. and South Korea of 'double standards' https://t.co/CPzxrYEMgN pic.twitter.com/fSiyY4lHbO
— Reuters (@Reuters) September 28, 2021
On Monday, North and South Korea restored cross-border communication lines that were cut off by Pyongyang in July, raising hopes for the resumption of stalled inter-Korean dialogue.
Last year, North Korea blew up a liaison office, and unilaterally cut off all inter-Korean communication lines over anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent from South Korea.
The hotlines were briefly back in operation in late July before being suspended by North Korea in protest against an annual combined military exercise of South Korea and the US.
Read more: North Korea fires ballistic missiles amid nuclear talks?
Courtesy: Anadolu Agency with additional input by GVS