SKorea to boost defences against NKorea nukes: report
Agence France-Presse | 06/24/2009 11:31 PM
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SEOUL - South Korea's military will strengthen defences against any North Korean nuclear attack after its neighbour tested an atomic weapon last month for the second time, reports said Wednesday.
The defence ministry wants to spend six billion won (4.7 million dollars) in next year's budget for a system to counter the electromagnetic pulse wave unleashed by a nuclear explosion, Chosun Ilbo newspaper said.
Such a pulse could knock out electronics gear including weapons systems.
The paper said the ministry Tuesday reported the plans to an ad hoc committee of the ruling party. It quoted committee members for its information.
Chosun said the military would spend 64 billion won to buy "bunker buster" bombs by next year, four years earlier than planned.
These can penetrate up to 30 metres (99 feet), enabling them to strike the North's underground nuclear facilities or command posts.
The military also wants to allocate eight billion won in next year's budget to buy Global Hawk unmanned high-altitude spy planes from next year, one year earlier than planned, Chosun said.
It is also reportedly seeking tens of billions of won for reconnaissance aircraft, ballistic missiles and an early-warning radar system, and munitions including laser-guided bombs.
The defence ministry said it could not comment on the report.
Yonhap news agency quoted a source as saying the South wants to protect major defence facilities against an electromagnetic pulse (EMP), which could be created by a nuclear detonation in advance of an all-out attack.
The pulse could shut down electronic equipment including weapons systems within tens or even hundreds of kilometres, the report said.
"It depends on the altitude and power of the blast," the source was quoted as saying. "An EMP is a new threat to us."
The source said the defence ministry is working on guidelines to limit casualties from a nuclear attack.
The North has in the past said its nuclear weapons are for defence only. But it has vowed to build more bombs in response to UN sanctions imposed to punish its May 25 nuclear test.
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