S. Korea pushing to develop electronic bombs by 2014: officials

By Sam Kim
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's top defense technology institute is
pushing to develop electronic bombs by 2014 that can knock out equipment within a
1km radius, officials said Tuesday.
Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) bombs, if exploded, can jam and damage surrounding
high-tech defense systems, including radars, ships, aircraft and communication
networks.
EMP can be generated through a nuclear blast or simulated without one, the
officials at South Korea's state-run Agency for Defense Development (ADD) said.
"Our EMP devices can currently affect systems only tens of meters away, but our
aim is to extend the reach to 1km by 2014," one official said, asking not to be
named as his identity is restricted from being disclosed to the media for
security reasons.
"An EMP bomb cannot be considered effective unless its range is at least 1km,"
the official, who has taken part in the testing of the device under development,
said.
The development effort, which has been under way for nearly a decade according to
the officials, comes as fears mount that North Korea may attempt to incapacitate
South Korea's defense systems through nuclear-generated EMP, or NEMP, in the
event of war.
Tension has run high between the divided countries since last year as their
relations sank to near all time lows. It heightened further when North Korea
recently conducted its second nuclear test and test-fired a barrage of missiles.
South Korea announced last week it would shield its major political and military
facilities against EMP attacks by 2014, but one ADD official said the most
effective defense is a counter-attack.
"EMP for EMP is the best tactical option in electronic warfare," the official
said, also seeking anonymity. "If they paralyze our defense systems, we should
quickly mount the same offensive to keep them from attacking us."
South and North Korea fought the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a truce rather
than a peace treaty.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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