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South Korea will open its own missile command on Thursday to counter the threat posed by North Korea¡¯s 170 mm and 240 mm long-range artillery and missiles. The Army said Wednesday it set up the command to efficiently command and control tactical surface-to-surface missiles (ATACMS) and standard Hyunmoo missile battalions, and so it can more effectively counter the threats posed by any enemy.
The command headed by a major general will oversee Korea¡¯s new homegrown 500 km cruise missile Cheon Ryong (sky dragon), as well as some 220 U.S.-produced 165-300 km ATACMS surface cruise missiles and the Korean-made 180-300 km capable Hyunmoo I and II.
The military says the changes will help the nation¡¯s ability to counter the 170 mm self-propelled artillery and near 1,000 units of 240 mm Multiple Rocket Launcher System Vehicles, Scud and Rodong Missiles that pose a great threat to the capital region.
Meanwhile, the Defense Acquisition Program Agency (DAPA) said Wednesday it gave the green light to the development of a surface-to-air guided missile to be called Cheolmae II. Some W498.5 billion (US$1=W944) will be spent until 2011 to build the missiles, which will not only be able to target enemy aircraft but missiles as well.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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