'THAAD can intercept N.K.’s SLBM,' says defense minister

'THAAD can intercept N.K.’s SLBM,' says defense minister. July. 11, 2016 07:25. by 손효주기자 hjson@donga.com.

North Korea started demonstration of force by firing a submarine launched ballistic missile (SLBM) on Saturday, a day after South Korea and the U.S. officially announced their decision to deploy a terminal high altitude air defense (THAAD) system in the South. “THAAD can intercept the SLBM” South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo said, while expressing confidence in the defense system.

“If the North launches an SLBM onto the Korean Peninsula, it will likely coordinate and strike with a missile with a 2,000-km range, and THAAD can intercept it,” Han said at a KBS program on Sunday. “It is an inevitable act of defense aimed at ensuring safety and survival of the country and people.” On protest by China and others against the deployment of THAAD, the Korean defense minister indicated that the government would deal with the issue as a matter of sovereignty.

The North launched its Musudan missile (called "Hwasong-10" by Pyongyang; maximum range of 3,500 kilometers) through high-angle fire, and reduced the missile’s range to 400 kilometers, threatening that it can also strike the South with the Musudan missile. The South Korean military noted that THAAD, whose maximum speed is Mach 14, can adequately intercept Musudan, which can fly up to Mach 10 at an altitude of 100 kilometers.

The North fired an SLMB at waters southeast of Sinpo in North Hamkyong Province at around 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. The South Korean military said that the North succeeded in "cold launch" by ejecting the SLBM from an undersea submarine through high-pressure gas, but the missile exploded in mid-air after flying some 30 kilometers.