North Korea has currently test-launched a ballistic missile from a submarine. This may have been a huge step in their nuclear weapons program, but North Korea is still far from being successful in creating a missile system or submarine that could leave the United States exposed to a disaster. South Korea told the capital of North Korea, Pyongyang, that they should stop creating submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) because the missiles were damaging the security of the area.
It is believed that North Korea is currently attempting to develop a nuclear device that is small enough to be attached to their ballistic missile. The UN has allowed North Korea to test their missile and nuke tests in their area. The submarines from North Korea are able to travel within range to the U.S. mainland. Thankfully, they are not yet able to carry a missile. The submarines that do have missiles attached are able to reach Japanese waters. The conflict between North and South Korea back in 1950-1953 is still in effect. The war ended with a truce, but not a treaty therefore the dispute is still in place. The United States, being South Korea’s biggest ally, receives many threats from North Korea. If a nuclear attack is believed to happen, the United States and Japan have the rights to launch a surprise attack with the intention of countering the predicted offensive. The successful test launch by North Korea was seen by many. It is even stated by a South Korean defense ministry official that the photographs taken on this past Saturday are actual pictures, not photo shopped. That same source stated that the North definitely has the capability of creating a submarine with ballistic missiles that is able to reach the United States within the next two or three years. The South Korean official also said that the current missile that the North Koreans created only traveled approximately 150 meters. |
Yang Uk, a senior research male at the Korea Defense and Security Forum and a policy adviser to the South Korean navy, believes that North Korean’s ability to send a missile farther is many years away. He stated that the submarines of North Korea are not able to manage the radar and tracking systems that are needed to guide a missile to the desired target.
Jeffery Lewis, a member of the California-based Monterey Institute of International Studies, said that North Korean’s missile has an approximate range of 2,400 km (1,500 miles). This means that a submarine would need to be at sea for around 60-90 days. With that long of a time frame, it would be very risky to send a submarine in range of the United States.
At any time, whether it is the next 2-3 years or within the next month, North Korea could attack with a nuclear-attached submarine missile. This would result in a war. To defend our own country, we would fight back. With South Korea being one of the United States’ allies and still in rough waters with North Korea, they would hopefully help the U.S. out if an outbreak of war were to occur. Many other allies would join in and this could become another world war.
Jeffery Lewis, a member of the California-based Monterey Institute of International Studies, said that North Korean’s missile has an approximate range of 2,400 km (1,500 miles). This means that a submarine would need to be at sea for around 60-90 days. With that long of a time frame, it would be very risky to send a submarine in range of the United States.
At any time, whether it is the next 2-3 years or within the next month, North Korea could attack with a nuclear-attached submarine missile. This would result in a war. To defend our own country, we would fight back. With South Korea being one of the United States’ allies and still in rough waters with North Korea, they would hopefully help the U.S. out if an outbreak of war were to occur. Many other allies would join in and this could become another world war.