South Korea Pamers New Bunker Destroyer Missiles, Targets In Caves And Tunnels

South Korean KTSSM. (Source: South Korea Army)

JAKARTA - The South Korean Army on Friday showcased a new bunker destroyer missile capable of striking enemy targets underground, amid efforts to strengthen prevention against North Korea's military threats.

The Surface Missile to the Korean Tactical Surface (KTSSM), which will be deployed later this year, is one of the new weapons exhibited at the Army Festival at the Gyeryongdae military headquarters in Gyeryong, about 140 kilometers south of Seoul, reported The Korea Times October 4.

A tactical ballistic missile, also named Ure, meaning thunder in Korean, has been developed to attack North Korea's long-range artillery hidden in caves and tunnels.

Citing Defense Security Asia, plans to deploy the missile later this year, following rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The deployment of the missile system for operation this year was revealed by the South Korean Ministry of Defense. Seoul's decision to deploy and operate this year's surface-to-surface missile system follows its success in completing last year's quality certification.

South Korea began development of the KTSSM shortly after an incident by artillery strikes by North Korea on Yeonpyeong Island in November 2010. The attack resulted in the deaths of two local civilians and two members of the North Korean Marine Corps.

The KTSSM missile system was introduced to the South Korean public in 2017 and has been developed by South Korean defense agency Defense Acquisition and Administration (DAPA) together with Hanwha Aerospace.

The guide system relies on a Global Autonomy System (GPS). This missile is known to have a range of 180 km.

It is known that many North Korea's long-range artillery is placed within attack distance from a wider South Korean capital region, home to nearly half of the country's 51 million population.