South Korean Defense Minister suggests 'decapitation training' in response to North Korea's ICBM launch

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik announced on the 18th that in response to North Korea's test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the United States and South Korea will conduct a ``decapitation operation'' exercise to remove the enemy's leadership.
warned that it may be carried out. When Shin appeared on MBM's news program on the same day, he said, ``Kim Jung Eun's most feared training is the decapitation operation and the additional deployment of strategic assets.''
In response to a question about whether decapitation (operational training) is possible, he answered, ``It is difficult to publicly discuss decapitation (operational training), but we are considering both options.''
He added, ``Today, the training of South Korean and American special warfare forces was published on the US Forces Korea website,'' and ``This week,
U.S. special warfare forces are conducting aerial maneuvers, raids on core facilities, and internal clearance exercises." On this day, US Forces Korea posted on X (former Twitter), ``Recently, the US Special Operations Command Korea
The Korean Navy SEALs participated in a two-week joint training exercise with the Korean Special Warfare Command and others. Regarding the additional deployment of strategic assets, Mr. Shin said, ``We will begin deploying strategic assets within a few days.''
"We are currently discussing the possibility of South Korea-U.S. and South Korea-U.S.-Japan drills," he said. The ICBM launched that day was estimated to be a Hwasong-18 solid fuel ICBM. North Korea in April and July of this year
Japan also test-fired a Hwasong-18-type ICBM that uses solid fuel and is capable of surprise launches without injecting fuel. Shin said, ``I think it's the Hwasong 18. Looking at the flight altitude, distance, and top speed, it seems like it's the Hwasong 18.
It is similar to the Hwasong-18 type launched in . I rate it as a success in terms of flight." He continued, ``The reason why it is considered a solid rather than a liquid is because a three-stage propulsion rocket was used.
The liquid-fuel-based Hwasong-15 and Hwasong-17 used two-stage propulsion rockets.'' However, ``the re-entry of warheads into the atmosphere, which is the most important test, is difficult to verify and has not yet been completed.''
I rate it as "It would need re-entry to become an actual weapon, but we're probably not there yet." “North Korea’s nuclear consultation group (NCG) meeting last week and the U.S. strategic asset deployment
When asked if he provoked North Korea in response to the incident, he answered, ``That's North Korea's excuse.'' Shin said, ``North Korea is steadily advancing (provocations) in line with its nuclear sophistication schedule.''
We evaluate that in January 2021, Kim Jong-un directly instructed the five major strategic weapons issues, and at the 9th Plenary Meeting on the 27th of this month, he conducted the final launch (of a solid-fuel ICBM) to ensure that the results were shown.'' Stated
. North Korea has teased that it will convene the 9th plenary session of the 8th term of the Party Central Committee later this month, but has not announced a specific date.
Regarding the real-time missile warning information sharing system that Japan, the United States, and South Korea will begin operating within the year,
"We'll announce it within 24 hours," he teased. Shin added, ``Previously, we only shared maritime detection means, but now the difference is that we share all missile information detection means, including ground detection means.''
added. “When a missile arrives, we can share the revised launch point, flight characteristics including flight path, and final drop point in real time 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so we can be more effective.
This will allow us sufficient time to respond effectively." Regarding signs of additional provocations by North Korea, the statement said, ``Nuclear and missile-related activities continue,'' and ``If South Korea and the United States detect such signs,
We are monitoring it."