North Korean missiles getting more agile, evasive

[soryang]

EXPLAINER: North Korean missiles getting more agile, evasive
By KIM TONG-HYUNG and HYUNG-JIN KIM

Analysts say the North likely tested an upgraded version of a system modeled after Russia’s Iskander mobile ballistic missiles. Their flatter trajectories compared to conventional ballistic weapons make them fly at an altitude where air is dense enough to allow for maneuverability. The unpredictability makes them harder to be intercepted by missile defense systems, experts say.

South Korea’s military took an unusually long time to release its assessment on the launches Thursday before it said hours later that the missiles traveled as far as 450 kilometers (279 miles).

Kim Dong-yub, a professor from Seoul’s University of North Korean Studies, said the discrepancy between the South Korean and North Korean assessments possibly shows how difficult it is for radar systems to accurately track these missiles during flight.

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-technology-seoul-south-korea-north-korea-d6bdaa7f3c5613ba3bd38218dbb8acb8

This is another pitch to resume the cumbersome and expensive 20th Century type conventional tactical maneuvers which have no practical defensive role against mobile ballistic missiles whatsoever. These types of missile tests from North Korea are not new. Once could argue a more responsive effort would be for the South Korean military to attempt to develop a more effective anti missile defense. More THAAD batteries are not the answer. The costs will be prohibitive. Therefore other than war which would conceivably result in a nuclear response from North Korea, the alternative is realistic negotiations.

[keithbvadu2]

1. Love letters between Kim and Dotard seem to have improved Kim's resolve.

Love letters between Kim and Dotard seem to have improved Kim's resolve.