South Korean Military Prepares The 'Kill Web' Concept To Anticipate North Korean Nuclear Threats And Missiles

Illustration of North Korean missiles. (Source: KCNA)

JAKARTA - The South Korean military will carry a more effective operational concept with the aim of neutralizing the threat from North Korea's growing nuclear and missile systems, even since the pre-launch stage, the Defense Ministry said.

The ministry launched a scheme to introduce the concept of "Kill Web" as part of a basic plan for Defense Innovation 4.0, an initiative by President Yoon Suk-yeol's Administration to leverage cutting-edge technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), to build smarter and stronger military countries.

The Kill Web refers to layered but integrated equipment that uses cyber operations, electronic warfare tactics, and other ways to disrupt and at the same time eliminate enemy moves to fire missiles even before its launch, according to a ministry official who does not want to be named.

While the Kill Chain preemptive strike system is currently designed to carry out emergency missions in linear and sequential processes, the Kill Web is a flexible approach that allows field officers to make adjustments to their initial target decision to optimize strike operations.

"The Kill Chain concept is to proceed in one direction," the official told reporters.

"But the Kill Web, like a spider web, often requires adjustment of missions to ensure operational effectiveness."

The official stressed that the Kill Web concept would be used to implement the Kill Chain system "more effective" than replacing it.

In the defense innovation plan, the ministry said it would develop an integrated "all domains" operation that utilizes AI and other new technologies, to ensure the country's military is able to "win war with minimum casualties in the shortest possible time."

The plan also includes developing AI-based vigilance concepts using manned and unmanned equipment to defend main military bases, including frontline guard posts and coastal and sea crossing units.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup called on the military to "fully" turn itself into a strong combat-ready force during a meeting of military commanders, according to his office.

At the meeting, the ministry outlined a series of key tasks, such as building an operating unit focused on combat missions and strengthening realistic training based on enemy provocation scenarios.

Under these tasks, the ministry seeks to create a training ground that allows direct firing exercises in all weather conditions, as well as to improve the working conditions of novice-level officers by increasing their wages.