South Korea developing missiles to destroy North Korea nuclear facilities

Oct. 19 (UPI) -- South Korea is preparing for full-scale war with North Korea by developing missiles that could destroy North Korea nuclear and missile facilities in the event of a conflict.

Gen. Kim Yong-woo, chief of staff of the South Korean army, said a plan to reduce to ashes North Korea's weapons facilities, has been created, local newspaper Segye Ilbo reported Thursday.

Kim, who submitted his report for an annual parliamentary audit by the National Assembly's defense committee, said the objective of the plan is to decimate Pyongyang's weapons of mass destruction while minimizing casualties.

"We will develop the concept of operations that suppresses North Korea's weapons of mass destruction in the early stages, while minimizing damage," Kim said Thursday.

The concept of operations includes the development of three types of all-weather, ultra-precise, high-power missiles, the formation of a special maneuvering unit, a combat bot and drone system, and "game changers" or cutting-edge military systems.

The three types of missiles include a tactical surface-to-surface missile, the Hyunmoo-2, and the Hyunmoo-4 missiles, according to local news network YTN.

The Hyunmoo-4, capable of carrying a 2-ton nuclear warhead and of targeting North Korea's underground military facilities, will begin development once U.S.-South Korea missile guidelines are revised.

Included in the plan is an air-ground task force that includes airborne and mechanized troops, that would be deployed to make a push into enemy territory and to neutralize nuclear and missile facilities, Seoul said.

In a separate statement on Thursday, the South Korean navy said the Korea-based three-axis system that includes Kill Chain, Seoul's pre-emptive strike system, is under review.