Army displays new bunker buster missile to be deployed this year

The Army on Friday showcased a new bunker buster missile capable of striking underground enemy targets amid efforts to strengthen deterrence against North Korean military threats. The Korean Tactical Surface to Surface Missile (KTSSM), set for deployment late this year, was among the new weapons displayed at the Army's Ground Forces Festival at the Gyeryongdae military headquarters in Gyeryong, some 140 kilometers south of Seoul. The tactical ballistic missile, also named Ure, which means thunder in Korean, has been developed to strike North Korean long-range artillery pieces hidden in caves and tunnels. It is known to have a range of 180 km. Many of the North's long-range artillery pieces are stationed within striking distance of South Korea's wider capital area -- home to nearly half of the country's 51 million people. The event also featured the new anti-air laser weapon designed to intercept North Korean drones with directed-energy beams. The weapon system is set to be deployed for operations later t his year. The Army also held a retirement ceremony for aging equipment, including the Barracuda armored vehicle introduced in 2004 for overseas operations in Iraq and Lebanon. Source: Yonhap News Agency