North Korea carried out its most recent nuclear test — its largest ever — on Sept. 9 at its underground facility at Punggye-ri. The DPRK claims it has “standardized” its nuclear warheads and can mount them on ballistic missiles. It’s unknown if the regime can do that yet, but it probably will soon.
Notice that the South Korean plan, or “Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation” (KMPR), echoes similar statements from North Korea which regularly — and more blatantly — threatens to turn Seoul into a “sea of fire.”
North Korea has hundreds of long-range artillery pieces and rocket launchers positioned to bombard South Korea’s capital on the first day of a conflict. Though it’s debatable how much damage North Korea really could do, and Pyongyang is likely exaggerating for effect, there’s no doubt a full-scale attack would prove devastating and kill thousands of people.
To echo the bravado, Yonhap’s source added that if the DPRK attacks the South with nuclear weapons, “the North’s capital city will be reduced to ashes and removed from the map.”
Bluster or not, military officials in Seoul have made similar comments hinting at plans for a decapitation strike during the opening hours of a major conflict.
“If North Korea pushes ahead with provocations that would threaten the lives and safety of our citizens, our military will strongly and sternly punish the provocations’ starting point, its supporting forces and command,” Maj. Gen. Kim Yong Hyun said in 2013 during a tense period of military exercises on both sides of the Demilitarized Zone.