South Korea strengthens its trilateral maritime system to increase deterrence, while Pyongyang calls the US the world's biggest war trader.

South Korean officials announced on February 2nd that the navy has established a new fleet command to operate several destroyers, including those equipped with the Aegis combat system, in order to better counter military threats from North Korea at sea.

In a statement, the Navy said: "The Korean Navy's Task Force Command – the key unit of the three-axis maritime system for countering North Korean nuclear and missile threats and protecting the nation's sea lanes – officially commenced operations on February 1."

North Korea test-fired a new hypersonic medium-range missile on January 6th. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared that the newly tested hypersonic missile system would help deter the country's rivals in the Pacific region, amid a visit by the US Secretary of State to the area. (Source: KCNA)

The three-axis sea-based system is the maritime version of the military's three-pillar deterrence structure, which includes the Kill Chain preemptive strike platform, the Korean Missile Defense and Countermeasures System (KMPR), and the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD).

According to the Navy, in an emergency, the command would deploy key destroyers to the waters near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) – the de facto maritime demarcation line between the two Koreas – to detect and intercept North Korean missiles and conduct precision strikes on key targets.

The Navy noted that the new command operates 10 destroyers and 4 support ships, including the 8,200-ton destroyer Jeongjo the Great, which is equipped with radar stealth capabilities and the latest Aegis combat system.

The South Korean Navy added that the ships, built under South Korea's next-generation destroyer project, known as KDDX, will also be commissioned into this new command upon completion.

Meanwhile, on the same day, February 2nd, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) accused the US of stepping up arms aid to its allies to consolidate its hegemonic position, while asserting that this aid was still insufficient to "save" South Korea from its strategic deficit.

"The U.S. – the world's largest war trader – is more eager than ever to sell weapons to its allies," and stressed that arms sales to South Korea are becoming increasingly "persistent," KCNA commented.

The North Korean news agency stated that providing weapons to South Korea reflects the US intention to disrupt the regional balance of power and consolidate its hegemonic position. It also emphasized, "No amount of US arms aid can save South Korea from its fate of strategic inadequacy... The US will not be able to achieve its ambitions thanks to the righteous strength of North Korea."

KCNA made the accusation after the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency recently announced plans to sell weapons to South Korea, including BQM-177A subsonic flight targets for Aegis-equipped destroyers and GQM-163 target drones.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ban-dao-trieu-tien-han-quoc-cung-co-he-thong-ba-truc-tren-bien-tang-kha-nang-ran-de-binh-nhuong-goi-my-la-thuong-nhan-chien-tranh-lon-nhat-the-gioi-302893.html