The Chosunilbo:
A U.S. military expert on Monday warned that North Korea could mount submarine-launched ballistic missiles on wheeled vehicles on land, which could make launches more difficult to detect.
Jeffrey Lewis of the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies sounded the warning on his blog, pointing out that the Russian SS-N-6 missiles, on which North Korea’s SLBMs are based, have already been modified into mid-range ballistic missiles.
Lewis said the missiles, which use solid fuel, could pose a threat if deployed on land since they would take less time to prepare for launch than liquid-fueled missiles.
North Korea used liquid fuel for attempted SLBM launches until April, when it replaced it with solid fuel. Recent tests suggest they can fly more than 500 km.
Lewis said in that case South Korea would need two of the U.S.’ Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery, not just one as controversially planned at the moment.
“That is an obvious solution to at least part of the problem posed” by the SLBMs, he said.
But he added this would be a dangerous move for the region. “Deploying defenses and precision-strike capabilities will intensify the arms race rather than provide an escape from it… Our best option, unpalatable as it may be, involves finding ways to discourage North Korea from developing new capabilities. Defense is a far less effective strategy.”
