Detecting Missiles

[Anchor Lead]

The concept of a "kill chain" begins by detecting in advance the signs of missile launch from North Korea and initiating preemptive strikes. To put this concept into action, the South Korean government has decided to use the National Intelligence Service's multipurpose satellite to be launched in 2021 for military purposes.

[Pkg]

The most important part of buidling a Korean-type kill chain is advance detection of signs of provocation. However, the South Korean military does not have a single reconnaissance satellite. As North Korea's ballistic missile threat mounts, the South Korean government has decided to use the Arirang 7, a multipurpose satellite. It will be controlled by the National Intelligence Agency for military reconnaissance. The satellite, equipped with a high resolution camera and an infrared radar, is capable of monitoring all parts of North Korea. When the satellite is launched in 2021, South Korea will be able to carry out its kill chain operation. Such decision was made because the military satellite development project has been stalled for four years with not even a contractor having been chosen yet. The South Korean government has been sen as wasting time. It has been unable to even decide whether to develop the satellite locally or make an overseas purchase. The Defense Project Committee has decided to also hasten the development of a military reconnaissance satellite. The first military satellite will be launched in 2022 and the remaining four satellites capable of monitoring North Korea through a thick cloud cover will all be put into orbit by 2023. Time is short as the start of the project has been delayed for three years, but the completion date has been pushed back by only a year. The Defense Acquisition Program Administration has decided to add more personnel and outside specialists to the team to hasten the construction of South Korea's kill chain.