<figure id="attachment_225803" class="wp-caption alignnone" style="width: 3657px;" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-225803"><a href="#" data-ident_hash="403e9baf"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/fridaydigital/image/private/t_article_image/wpmedia/2022/01/aflo_62043377.jpg" alt=""></a><figcaption id="caption-attachment-225803" class="wp-caption-text">A South Korean soldier with camouflage on his face, photographed on National Armed Forces Day in September 2005 (Image: AFP/Afro)</figcaption></figure>
 North Korea has been stepping up its military activities.
 Since the beginning of January, it has launched six ballistic missiles in four tests. The launches on the 5th and 11th On January 5 and 11, it launched hypersonic missiles. On the 5th and 11th, it launched hypersonic missiles. On January 5 and 11, it launched hypersonic missiles, and on January 14 and The 5th and 11th were hypersonic missiles, and the 14th and 17th were fixed-fuel propulsion short-range ballistic missiles. The one launched on the 11th was a hypersonic missile, and the ones on the 14th and 17th were said to be short-range ballistic missiles with fixed-fuel propulsion. The performance of these missiles seems to be higher than expected.
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 Hypersonic missiles are weapons that are launched from a low trajectory at speeds over five times the speed of sound (Mach 5). 11 The maximum speed of the missile on the 11th is Mach 10. The maximum speed of the missile on the 11th was analyzed to be Mach 10. It is characterized by its ability to maintain a low altitude at high speed and fly long distances, making it difficult for opponents to detect it. The missile&#8217;s trajectory is difficult to predict, making it difficult to intercept and almost impossible for current Aegis ships to respond. This weapon is North Korea&#8217;s trump card.
 Its leader, Kim Jong-un, is growing more and more confident. 19. At a meeting of the Politburo of the Workers&#8217; Party of Korea held on April 19, he announced that he would resume &#8220;all actions&#8221; that had been suspended. He hinted that he would resume nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile launches, which had been temporarily suspended as part of his dialogue with the United States.
 The reaction of the South Korean government is a matter of concern. The South Korean government&#8217;s reaction to the missile launch is worrisome, as it seems to deny North Korea&#8217;s claims.
 (South Korean newspaper reporter) &#8220;After the launch on the 5th, North Korea made a big announcement that it had successfully tested a hypersonic missile. However, the South Korean Defense Ministry announced the results of its analysis two days later. However, the South Korean Ministry of National Defense released the results of its analysis two days later, saying that &#8220;hypersonic&#8221; is an expression used only in North Korea&#8217;s private circles for ballistic missiles in general, and that &#8220;the technology has not reached that level. It also said that the missile had not reached that level of technology, and that it was &#8216;of ordinary quality. As expected. 11 The Mach 10 It is true that the missile launched on the 11th, which is said to be a Mach 10 missile, was evaluated to some extent, saying that it was &#8216;more advanced than the 5th. &#8230;&#8230; (Ibid.)
<h2>16 people have died in accidents since 2000.</h2>
 Why does South Korea &#8220;underestimate&#8221; North Korea&#8217;s weapons? In the background is the surprising capability of the South Korean military.
 The reason is that while North Korea&#8217;s weapons are evolving, South Korea&#8217;s are aging. The number of fighter jets in its fleet is As of The number of fighter jets in the ROK&#8217;s fleet is about 410 as of 2009. The number of fighter planes in South Korea&#8217;s fleet has increased from about 410 in 2009 to The number of fighter jets has increased from about 410 in By 2012 by 2012. 360 In 2012, the number will decrease to about 360. The Korea Institute for Defense Studies (KDI) has set the appropriate size of the fighter jet fleet at 430 There are two reasons for this.
 There are two reasons for this. One is the retirement of old fighter planes. F-4D The F-4D, which was introduced in the late 1960s, has been retired in 2010. The F-4D, introduced in the late 1960s, was retired in 2010. 77 From 1977 to 95 The F-4E, of which 95 were introduced in 1977, was retired in F-4E The F-4E, of which 95 have been introduced since 1977, is scheduled to be retired in the mid-20s or later.
 The second is the irrational military administration. The second is irrational military administration. In the 1990s, the Air Force selected the twin-engine, high-safety &#8220;F/A-18&#8221; aircraft. 18 In the 1990s, the Air Force requested the F/A-18, which has twin engines and is safer, but the Army&#8217;s network interfered and the request was not realized. The same thing happened in the 2000s. The same thing happened in the selection process in the 2000s. As a result of this political mess, we were forced to use old fighter planes such as the F-4 and F-5. Since 2000 Since 2000, there have been 16 accidents involving the &#8220;F-5&#8221; alone. 16 Since 2000, 16 pilots have died in &#8220;F-5&#8243; accidents alone. That&#8217;s a loss equivalent to wartime losses,&#8221; said a writer familiar with South Korea&#8217;s military situation.
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 The policy of the Moon Jae-in administration is also said to have a major problem.
 The Moon Jae-in administration&#8217;s policy is also a big problem, he said: &#8220;It is promoting defense projects of questionable necessity. A symbolic example is the idea of a light aircraft carrier. Do we really need a light aircraft carrier, which would cost a fortune, to face North Korea on land? There are skeptics not only in the opposition parties but also in the ruling party. In fact, the National Assembly&#8217;s National Defense Committee has cut most of the costs related to the light aircraft carrier requested by the navy, and has decided to spend 500 million won (about 50 million won. However, the administration intervened, and last year the cost was reduced to 500 million won.
 But the administration intervened, and last year December Light aircraft carrier-related 7.2 billion won 7.2 billion won (about 700 million yen) In December last year, the administration intervened and approved a defense budget that included 7.2 billion won (about 700 million yen) for a light aircraft carrier. In December, the defense budget was approved, including 7.2 billion won (about 720 million yen) related to light aircraft carriers. Considering the dramatic improvement in North Korea&#8217;s missile capabilities, the budget should be spent on upgrading the latest radars, drones, and fighter jets. The government&#8217;s policy is way off the mark.
 One of the reasons for North Korea&#8217;s bullishness may be the poor state of the South Korean military.

 AFP/Afro

 North Korea has launched a series of missiles. Kim Jong-un's confidence has grown as the performance of his missiles has improved dramatically, and he has taken a strong stance, suggesting that he may resume nuclear testing. In the background lies the reality of the South Korean military. What is the reality of its unexpected capabilities and equipment?

South Korea’s military underestimates North Korean missiles

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