Surface Forces: New and Deadlier North Korean Anti-Ship Missiles

Archives

July 4, 2007: South Korea believes that recent North Korean missile tests are not of the anti-ship missiles they already have (10-30 year old Russian and Chinese designs), but more modern models. That means better guidance systems, and improved ability to get past electronic countermeasures and decoys (like flares). The hundreds of anti-ship missiles North Korea currently deploys are useless against a modern warship that has its defenses turned on. But with better electronics, the existing North Korean anti-ship missiles would be deadlier. While this would not do much for North Korean defenses (the threat from the sea is not all that great), North Korea could export these improved missiles to many nations that, otherwise, have a hard time finding anyone who will sell them modern weapons. Nations like Iran and Myanmar (Burma), or even terrorist organizations like Hizbollah or Hamas.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close