S. Korea Will Soon Be Ready to Take Out Kim Jong Un

Brigade would operate in the 'event of war'
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 5, 2017 6:18 AM CST
South Korea Accelerates 'Decapitation Unit' Plan
In this May 10, 2016 file photo, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves at parade participants at the Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, North Korea.   (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File)

South Korea likely stands alone in having the words "decapitation unit" feature into its New Year's resolution. As CNN reports, the country's defense minister now says the formation of a brigade that could take out Kim Jong Un and other North Korea bigwigs in the event of war will not be complete in 2019 as previously specified, but in 2017. The network notes that the two countries are technically still at war, as they signed only an armistice in 1953.

The Australian reports the sped-up timeline was revealed in a Wednesday policy briefing, with Defense Minister Han Min-koo putting it thusly: "We are planning to set up a special brigade with the goal of removing or paralyzing North Korea’s wartime command structure." The AP spoke to an unnamed official who wouldn't specify whether the unit would be equipped to carry out pre-emptive strikes, or if it would have only a reactionary function in the "event of war." Han in September revealed the country did have a plan in place to take out North Korea leadership if necessary, and Wednesday's comments appear to build on that. More here. (More South Korea stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X