Published : Dec. 18, 2016 - 12:59
North Korea's ability to engage in special operational warfare has improved over the years, as the reclusive regime builds up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, a local state-run think tank said Sunday.
According to the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) that took detailed testimonies from North Korean defectors who served in senior field or command positions in Pyongyang's military, the regime has made a concerted move to not only build up the country's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) but also its conventional forces.
"Every intelligence points toward a buildup of conventional arms," said an official source, who declined to be identified. The source, in particular, said South Korea's military is of the opinion that the North has set up more special forces units, upgraded the equipment used by such troops and beefed up their training.
North Korean flag(123rf)
KIDA and the military said as a case in point, the North actually created a battalion-size unit specially tasked with attacking South Korea's presidential office Cheong Wa Dae and assassinating key figures in government.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un actually visited this battalion on Nov. 4 and the troops assigned to the unit actually took part in a mock attack on Cheong Wa Dae early last week.
Even before such developments, the North has placed considerable emphasis on special forces, and is reported to employ large numbers of troops for special missions in the event of war breaking out on the Korean Peninsula.
The source then said Seoul is currently in the process of reassessing the North's infantry, artillery, special warfare, naval and aerial capabilities, with the final classified report to be submitted to the defense ministry and Joint Chiefs of Staff in the first half of 2017.
Such analysis can paint a clearer picture of North Korea's military might that has been greatly boosted by it nuclear weapons program.
This year alone the North tested two nuclear devices and fired off dozens of ballistic missiles, including those launched from a submarine, which can pose considerable challenges for South Korea and its main ally the United States.
Others said that while it has become very hard to carry out signal intelligence, with Pyongyang using underground cables to send commands to all key forces, Seoul still has the ability to carry out human intelligence gathering from various sources that includes defectors.
Since 2000, there have been 294 North Korean soldiers who have defected to the South, with many being senior officers and noncommissioned officers who have a generally good grasp of developments taking place within the military. Of the total who have reached the South, 20-30 have held command posts with their insight being instrumental in the compiling of the latest assessment.
They said this is the kind of intelligence that Japan wants to acquire through the recently inked General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA).
"There is a chance that Tokyo may use GSOMIA to get a copy of the military reassessment report that Seoul is working on," insiders said. (Yonhap)