South Korea presented a ballistic missile capable of carrying an eight-ton warhead and an American bomber at a military parade in Seoul, a show of force held annually to signal its readiness to respond to North Korean threats.
The missile Hyunmoo-5successfully tested last year, was displayed at the Armed Forces Day parade at an air base in Seoul, in which some 5,300 soldiers340 types of military equipment and aircraft flights. Another smaller-scale parade took place in central Seoul and attracted thousands of spectators.
For decades, such military parades were held infrequently in South Korea, but last year President Yoon Suk Yeol recovered the tradition of celebrating them annuallyin line with his mantra of “peace through strength.”
Military officials said the parade was intended in part to showcase South Korea’s military might as deterrent measure against the Northwhich often organizes parades with weapons such as intercontinental ballistic missiles.
This is what the missile looks like:
During a military parade commemorating the 76th anniversary of South Korea’s armed forces, Seoul showcased its new ballistic missile, the Hyunmoo-5, which features a warhead weighing up to 9 tons. The missile is engineered to target and destroy heavily fortified underground… pic.twitter.com/irfE7zqzfK
— Umair Aslam (@Defense785) October 1, 2024
The South Korean parade included for the first time the flyover of an American B-1B strategic bomberwhile the US Eighth Army band and a Stryker armored brigade also participated.
In a speech before the parade, Yoon warned Pyongyang against using nuclear weapons and mocked what he called his illegal military cooperation with Russia. He also celebrated the launch of the Strategic Command, in charge of responding to the North’s weapons of mass destruction.
???????? | South Korea’s massive Hyunmoo-5 TEL appeared at the Armed Forces Day ceremony.
The 9-axled vehicle is carrying a new-type ballistic missile, which might be equipped with the 8-ton conventional warhead (!).
Hyunmoo-5 is currently the heaviest non-nuclear ballistic missile… pic.twitter.com/IAPi7XPieg
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) October 1, 2024
“If North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will face a determined and overwhelming response from our military and the US alliance,” Yoon said. “That day will be the end of the North Korean regime.”
Dubbed a “monster missile” by South Korean media, the Hyunmoo-5 was one of the centerpieces of the parade, specifically designed to penetrate underground bunkers. The military presented it as the “Hyunmoo ultra-high-power ballistic missile”, mounted on two nine-axle transporter-erector-launcher (TEL) vehicles.
Someone took a photo of Hyunmoo-5 ballistic missile from behind. It has 9 wheels, and the round-shaped canister looks very similar to other states’ long-range ballistic missiles such as Hwasung, DF-21, DF-31 from North Korea and China. The only difference is conventional warhead. pic.twitter.com/CBmFl4JNBo
— Yulgok Kim (@rok_nuke) October 1, 2024
South Korean officials maintain that the neighboring country could be trying to further raise tensions with weapons tests before in-person tests in the United States to increase its influence in possible diplomatic contacts with the new government. Experts say that The North might think a larger nuclear arsenal would help it win more concessions from the White House.such as broad sanctions relief.
Earlier on Tuesday, North Korean Vice Defense Minister Kim Kang Il criticized the United States for the temporary deployment of powerful military assets in South Korea and promised a strong response. He referenced the recent visit of a nuclear-powered submarine and the flight of the B-1B on Tuesday.
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