nd a beam width of 36 feet would carry one or two ballistic missiles. This new technology is purposely designed to enhance the reach of the nuclear weapons launch platform closer to their targets in S Korea while keeping them safe from being attacked. While the apparent lack of sophisticated technology with North Korea means that it would be subject to easy detection by the US and its allied anti submarine forces, the submarine would however have a fairly good chance of being able to reach its launch position submerged to carry out a strike with the two stage Pukguksong-1 missile having an estimated range of above 700 nms to target any location in South Korea or Japan.
North Korea may be struggling to develop nuclear headed airborne missiles but its current policy of modernising and arming the delivery platform i.e. its submarine fleet needs serious consideration. In 2015, apparently many of these could not be accounted for thereby setting off alarms . The possession of an ability to launch missiles from a submarine rather than a static site widens the risk assessment for its enemies.
So what are the ROKN capabilities against the PRK N SLBM threat ?
The key to this question lies in the statement in 2017 by Vice Adm. Lee, Ki-Sik, Commander of the Republic of Korea Fleet “Our ROK-US alliance will counter the North Korean nuclear development and SLBM threats with determination.” But this alliance is also full of gaps .
The ROKN launched an independent submarine command 01 Feb 2015 , highlighting its emphasis on undersea operations. The Command, the sixth of its kind in the world, brings operations, logistics, training and maintenance under one roof, according to Navy officials. The command’s main mission is to better protect the country from North Korean naval provocations. The command, located in the southern port city of Jinhae, operates thirteen diesel-electric submarines (nine 1,200-ton type 209 or Chang Bogo class ( batch II harpoon missile capable) KSS-I, and eight 1,800-ton type 214 HDW Son Wonil-class with AIP (KSS-II) with one more being commissioned by 2019.
In other plans, the Navy also will deploy nine 3,000-ton heavy attack submarines, code named KSS-III, equipped with multiple vertical launch tubes to fire 1,500-kilometer cruise missiles that could hit key targets in North Korea. The development of the KSS-III lead ship started last November at the dockyard of Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering.
To beef up anti-submarine operations, the Navy plans to procure 12 more helicopters; in 2013,
