North Korean Military Ready for Action in the West Sea Clash

According to Yunhap News, during the naval clash of June 29th in the West (Yellow) Sea, North Korea activated anti-ship missiles ready to fire STYX missiles at the two South Korean corvettes that attacked a northern warship. It is highly likely that the clash would have escalated into a major battle and another war in Korea, if the southern warships had not ceased firing when they did.

Whang Yi Dong, a South Korean military spokesman, said on July 4th: "When two of our navy corvettes (초계함) joined the clash, a northern missile ship, which was moored at Sagotz (사곶) at the time, activated its STYX targeting radar. Normally, the radar is kept turned off." North Korea has more than 40 missile ships, each equipped with 2-4 STYX missiles with a range of 46km. STYX missiles are major threats to South Korea's capital ships. The two southern corvettes shot in the air anti-radar chaffs as they approached the clash scene. The two corvettes were ordered to join the clash at 10:25 by the ROKN 2nd Fleet commander and steamed to the battle area at the top speed (30 knots). However, they were hampered by the fishing nets and reached within 10-13km from the northern ship at 10:43. They opened fire on the northern ship scoring a direct hit and set the ship on fire.

More ominously, North Korea had activated Silkworm anti-ship cruise missile batteries at Dongsan-got at 11:24, some 30 min after the clash was over. Silkworm missiles have a range of 95km. In addition, North Korean war planes and warships in the Hwanghae Province and its adjacent regions went into a combat-ready state. If the southern ships had pursued the stricken northern ship, it is most likely that the northern military would have reacted violently and decisively and the clash would have escalated into a general war.

It is believed that North Korea has a war plan that includes destroying US and ROK military units on Baikryong-do and other islands in the West Sea held by the US. In the aftermath of the prior clash in the West Sea, North Korea aired flights of commando transports in an apparent move to attack US-held islands. It is assumed that such attacks would be preceded by massive missile barrages on the US and ROK warships and island bases. At the same time, North Korean heavy artillery units along the DMZ would be loaded up and ready to fire on Seoul, if the US attacked, or threatened, the North Korean mainland.