북한이 중거리미사일 2기를 동해안으로 옮긴 후 발사대가 장착된 차량에 실어 특정시설에 숨긴 것으로 보인다고 5일 소식통들이 전했다.
한미 정보 당국은 북한이 ‘무수단’ 미사일을 기습적으로 발사할 가능성에 대비, 이지스 구축함과 첩보위성, 서태평양에 배치된 해상기반 X밴드 레이더(SBX-1) 등을 동원해 강원도 원산지역을 포함한 동해안을 정밀 감시하고 있다.
한 정부 고위 소식통은 “북한이 이번주 초 무수단 중거리미사일 2기를 열차를 이용해 동해안으로 옮기고 발사대가 장착된 차량에 탑재한 것을 확인했다”고 밝혔다.
그는 “북한은 미사일을 탑재한 2대의 차량을 특정시설에 숨긴 것으로 보인다”면서 “한미 정보 당국이 미사일을 숨긴 것으로 보이는 시설을 집중적으로 감시하고 있다”고 말했다.
그는 북한이 첩보망에 노출되도록 미사일을 열차로 이동시킨 후 탑재 차량을 숨긴 것은 “기습적으로 발사하겠다는 의도로 판단된다”고 덧붙였다.
시험발사 기록이 없는 무수단 미사일은 길이 12∼18.9m, 지름 1.5∼2m에 사거리 3천∼4천㎞로 이론적으로 괌까지 타격이 가능하다. 북한은 2009년 기준으로 50발을 실전 배치한 것으로 알려져 있으며 2010년 10월 노동당 창건 기념일 군사퍼레이드에서 첫 선을 보였다.
북한이 무수단 2기를 동해안으로 이동시킴에 따라 미국이 고(高)고도 미사일방어체계(THAAD)를 긴급히 괌에 투입하기로 한 바 있다.
한미는 북한이 김일성 생일(4월15일)을 전후로 미사일을 발사할 가능성이 크다고 판단, 정보자산을 가동해 미사일 동향을 정밀 추적 중이다.
위용섭 국방부 부대변인은 “우리 군은 한미연합 정보자산을 집중 투입해서 북한전력을 24시간 보고 있다”며 “특히 북한의 스커드 미사일 노동미사일 그리고 무수단 등 미사일 발사동향에 대해서 집중적으로 감시하고 있다”고 밝혔다.
군의 한 소식통은 “탐지거리 1천㎞인 SPY-1 레이더를 탐지한 7천600t급 이지스함 2척이 각각 동해와 서해에서 대기하고 있다”며 “북한이 미사일을 발사하면 궤적을 추적하게 될 것”이라고 밝혔다.
한미 연합 훈련이 끝나고 복귀했던 서애유성룡함은 최근 동해상으로 이동했고 율곡이이함은 서해상에 배치된 것으로 알려졌다. 군 당국은 육상의 그린파인 레이더(탐지거리 500㎞)와 공중조기경보통제기(피스아이) 등도 가동 중이다.
북한이 지난 12월 12일 평안북도 철산군 동창리 기지에서 ‘은하-3호’ 장거리 로켓을 발사했을 때 이지스함은 94초, 피스아이는 97초, 그린파인 레이더는 120초 만에 각각 발사 사실을 탐지, 당국에 보고했다.
시험발사 미사일이 일본 열도를 지나 북태평양 상공을 지날 때는 일본 동쪽 해상에서 대기 중인 미 해군의 9천t급 이지스함인 매케인함과 서태평양에 배치된 탐지거리 2천∼5천㎞인 ‘SBX-1’을 통해 탐지할 수 있다. (코리아헤럴드)
N.K. loads two medium-range missiles on mobile launchers
North Korea has loaded two intermediate-range missiles onto mobile launchers and hidden them in an unidentified facility near the east coast, Seoul military sources said Friday, triggering speculation that the North is ready for an abrupt missile launch.
Earlier this week, the communist state had moved the “Musudan” medium-range missiles to its east coast, prompting the U.S. to send its advanced missile defense system to its base on the Pacific Ocean island of Guam.
South Korea’s Navy has sent two Aegis destroyers equipped with advanced radar systems to both of its coasts as North Korea is moving closer to a missile launch, military officials said.
The United States also said it is taking “all the necessary precautions” in the face of escalating threats from North Korea.
The two countries‘ intelligence officials have been closely monitoring the North Korean facility believed to contain the Musudan missiles on the TELs (transporter-erector-launcher). The missile can fly 3,000-4,000 kilometers and is capable of hitting the U.S. base in Guam in the Pacific Ocean.
“Early this week, the North has moved two Musudan missiles on the train and placed them on mobile launchers,” a senior military official familiar with the knowledge of the matter said.
The North’s concealing the missiles atop the mobile launcher platform is seen as an attempt to launch missiles in a surprise move, the official said, noting it was not clear whether the move is for a test firing or military drills.
The isolated communist nation has not yet conducted a test firing of the Musudan missile, which was first revealed to the international community in October 2010 during a military parade in Pyongyang.
South Korea’s 7,600-ton Aegis destroyers with SPY-1 radar, which can track hundreds of targets as far as 1,000 kilometers away, have been on standby on the east and west coasts of the Korean Peninsula to track missile launches by Pyongyang, according to a senior Navy official said.
“If the North fires off a missile, we will trace its trajectory,” the official said asking for anonymity citing confidential information.
The South Korean military is also operating the ground-based missile defense radar system Green Pine, and the early warning aircraft Peace Eye under its stepped up military readiness status to prepare for a potential rocket launch, according to the officials.
The latest move comes as the communist country recently moved a medium-range missile to its east coast, while the U.S. strengthened its Pacific missile defenses and radar surveillance amid intensifying threats from Pyongyang.
While Seoul’s defense ministry didn’t officially confirm the type of missile, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin Thursday said it is believed to have a “considerable distance,” which points to a medium-range missile.
According to intelligence analysis, the component seen in the satellite imagery seems like a Musudan missile, which can fly about 3,000-4,000 km and is capable of hitting the U.S. base in Guam in the Pacific Ocean.
The North has not yet conducted a test firing of the Musudan missile, which was first revealed to the international community in October 2010 during a military parade in Pyongyang.
“We are closely monitoring North Korea’s missile preparations, but it is not yet clear when and where it will fire off a missile,” defense ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok said in a briefing. “We will step up our military posture if the North’s missile affects us.”
In response to media reports that the North may plan to launch a missile in the coming days or weeks, Kim said Pyongyang could pick a launching day it deems “meaningful,” without elaboration.
Outside watchers see a high chance that Pyongyang may launch the missile in mid-April to celebrate the April 15 birthday of Kim Il-sung, the communist nation’s late founder and the young leader Kim Jong-un‘s grandfather, in a move to bolster the regime’s grip on power.
The North’s apparent missile relocation has prompted the Pentagon to move its advanced missile defense system to its base on Guam along with radar systems.
Asked about the North’s apparent move to place a medium-range missile on its east coast, White House spokesman Jay Carney said President Barack Obama’s administration was aware of the reports but declined to comment specifically.
“What we’re seeing now is a familiar pattern of behavior out of North Korea -- regrettable but familiar,” Carney said aboard Air Force One as Obama returned to Washington from a fundraising trip to California.
But while the barrage of threats from the communist North was familiar, Carney said it was nevertheless “obviously a concern,” adding: “We’re taking all the necessary precautions.”
“We‘re monitoring both the actions taken by and the statements made by the North Korean leadership. And we’re also taking prudent measures to respond to that activity and to those statements,” the spokesman said.
He said such “action and provocative rhetoric only serve to further isolate North Korea, to harm the North Korean economy, to set back any efforts the North Koreans might want to take towards rejoining the community of nations.”
Carney reiterated, however, that Pyongyang “has a path available to it if it seeks to improve its economy and work towards abiding to its international obligations.”
“Threats and provocative actions will not bring the DPRK the security, international respect and economic development that it seeks,” said Carney.
“We continue to urge the North Korean leadership to heed President Obama’s call to choose the path of peace and come into compliance with its international obligations.”
The Korea Herald
(
khnews@heraldcorp.com)