S. Korea to establish independent unit to track N. Korea missiles

SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's military is planning to set up an
independent air defense unit in charge of detecting and intercepting North Korean
missiles by 2012, a military source said Sunday.
The source, requesting anonymity, said the South Korean military will spend about
300 billion won (US$214.3 million) by 2012 to establish the so-called "Air and
Missile Defense-Cell," noting the project has been underway since 2006.
With the establishment of the new air defense division, the South Korean military
will possess its own capabilities to detect and intercept North Korean missiles,
said the source.
Tension has been mounting on the Korean Peninsula lately, with North Korea
issuing threats of war against South Korea and reportedly moving to test-fire a
long-range missile capable of hitting parts of the U.S.
The military source said the new air defense unit will be responsible for
conducting close oversight over North Korea's missile facilities 24 hours a day
and assessing the communist state's missile-launching capabilities.
Both short-range and long-range missiles of North Korea will be under
surveillance at the new air defense unit, the source added.
ycm@yna.co.kr
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