Navy Inspection

[Anchor Lead]

A parliamentary inspection of the Navy took place at the National Assembly yesterday. The naval officers presented tougher combat operation plans against North Korean threats, which included a nuclear-powered submarine and the establishment of a strategic fleet.

[Pkg]

The Navy reported at the National Assembly's yearly inspection that it plans to establish by 2023 a strategic fleet and a naval air force headquarters in response to North Korean threats. The Marine Corps disclosed its plan to found a strategic island defense command center, which protects the five major islands in the Yellow Sea, Dokdo Islets in the East Sea, and even Jeju Island.

[Soundbite] Lt. Gen. Jun Jin-goo(ROKMC Commanding Officer) : "There is no Marine Corps forces in the Ulleungdo Island area, so we plan to review Marine deployment there."

The need for a nuclear-powered submarine has been raised in order to counter North Korea's submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

[Soundbite] Rep. Chung Jin-suk(Liberty Korea Party) : "A plan is needed for Korea to bring an American nuclear submarine and operate it by itself or jointly with other parties, like the U.S. or Japan."

[Soundbite] Um Hyun-seong(Chief of Naval Operations Admiral) : "If a nuclear-powered submarine is built, it will have high operational effectiveness."

But some lawmakers were skeptical of the idea, given the construction cost and operational ramifications.

[Soundbite] Rep. Kim Jong-dae(Justice Party) : "If a lot more money than the Navy's one-year budget is sucked into a nuclear-powered submarine like a black hole, it will cause severe difficulties in other combat capabilities."

There were conflicting opinions regarding the need to introduce the SM-3 missile, nicknamed the "THAAD of the sea" and capable of intercepting ballistic missiles up to 500 kilometers in altitude.

[Soundbite] Rep. Kim Dong-cheol(People's Party) : "Can't you ask the U.S. to deploy the SM-3s at all times and not alternately?"

[Soundbite] Rep. Seo Young-kyo(Democratic Party) : "The SM-5s must be considered. They are much more affordable than the SM-3s and capable of defending intermediate altitudes."

In relation to the shooting accident that occurred at an army base in Gangwon-do Province on September 26, the lawmakers criticized the lack of discipline in the military and demanded the establishment of measures to prevent such accidents from recurring.