South Korea’s risky ‘Kill Chain’ plans to counter North Korea nuclear threat may raise eyebrows in China

Seoul is pursuing a strategy of bolstering conventional counterforces focused on assertive strikes in the face of the North’s mounting nuclear threats

An analyst said the Kill Chain may offend China, who hit Seoul with economic retaliations when it deployed its Thaad US missile defence system in 2017

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outh Korea is pouring resources into its strategy of deterring any North Korean nuclear attack by preparing for preemptive strikes if necessary, a strategy some experts say may exacerbate their arms race and risks miscalculation during a conflict. Photo: South Korean Defence Ministry handout/AFP

Published: 7:00pm, 27 Jul 2022

In the face of North Korea’s mounting nuclear threats, South Korea is pursuing a rare strategy of bolstering conventional counterforces focused on assertive strikes – a risky manoeuvre that could lead to an arms race and regional instability, analysts warn.

After the new conservative president Yoon Suk-yeol took office in May, Seoul returned to a decade-old “Kill Chain” strategy of mounting precautionary strikes and possibly removing the North’s senior leadership in case of an impending attack.

During his presidential campaign, Yoon said there would be “no recourse, but a pre-emptive strike” if signs of an “imminent” attack from Pyongyang emerge, sparking accusations of warmongering.

At the core of the “Kill Chain” strategy is sophisticated “Stealth” jet fighters that could penetrate deep into the North taking out military targets including nuclear missiles hidden deep inside tunnels.

In accordance with this strategy, South Korea’s defence authorities this month approved a 3.94 trillion-won (US$2.97 billion) plan to buy 20 additional F-35A radar-evading fighters by 2028, which will add to its existing fleet of 40 F-35s.

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