South Korea orders 90 bunker-buster missiles that are perfect for striking North Korea and taking out Kim Jong Un
- South Korea has quietly signed an order for 90 bunker-busting missiles that lend themselves perfectly to a pre-emptive strike on North Korea
- The move comes as high-stakes talks play out between Seoul and Pyongyang, and historic meetings between South Korean President Moon Jae In and President Donald Trump sit on the near horizon.
- The decision to buy offensive, bunker-busting missiles even as hopes are high and tensions thawing between North and South Korea indicates that South Korean President Moon Jae In is serious about keeping the pressure on.
South Korea has quietly signed an order for 90 bunker-busting missiles that lend themselves perfectly to a pre-emptive strike on North Korea, and possibly taking out Kim Jong Un in an underground bunker.
The move comes as high-stakes talks play out between Seoul and Pyongyang, and historic meetings between South Korean President Moon Jae In and President Donald Trump sit on the near horizon.
But South Korea has long shown an interest in deep penetrating missiles, even designing its own Hyunmoo-2 ballistic missiles that can hit all of North Korea and dig deep into the earth before exploding.
In response to North Korean missile tests in the past, South Korea has released video of the missile torching a mannequin in a deep bunker, perhaps as a message to Kim.
South Korea's Defence Acquisition Program Administration, or DAPA, ordered the KEPD 350K Taurus bunker-busters from a German company and will add them to about 170 such missiles they already own, according to IHS Janes.
The missiles fire from South Korea's F-15K Slam Eagles and have a range of 500 kilometers, putting all important North Korean leadership and nuclear sites within range.
South Korea has previously and successfully tested the Taurus from F-15s, according to Yonhap.
The decision to buy offensive, bunker-busting missiles even as hopes are high and tensions are thawing between the two technically warring states indicates that Moon is serious about keeping pressure up on North Korea.
Though North Korea has reportedly offered to suspend missile and nuclear tests during the process of trying to speak to the US, both South Korea and the US have announced that their joint military drills will continue.