South Korea has revealed it is preparing for the potential assassination of North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un and conducting “decapitation drills.”
The confirmation comes less than 24 hours after the rogue dictator unveiled plans to strengthen his military with the expansion of its nuclear and drone supplies.
South Korean defence minister Shin Won-sik told state media Seoul has continued to perform assassination drills and said US nuclear weapons could be deployed in the event of an attack from Pyongyang.
Shin insisted that “both are considered options” as he revealed US forces also participated in the drills.
He told MBN television: “While it is difficult to openly discuss decapitation, the ROK-US special operation forces are… conducting training.
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“This training is for aerial manoeuvres, raids on key facilities and indoor mop-up.”
Speculation about preparations for Kim’s assassination began to emerge in 2017, when Shin’s predecessor Song Young-moo unveiled plans for the creation of a “decapitation unit.”
The unit would specialise in the elimination of Kim Jong-un as well as top members of his government.
The South Korean Army confirmed the drills, carried out in conjunction with US Army Special Forces, took place in December.
Shin’s admission came as Kim claimed South Korea and the US had made war on the peninsula a “realistic reality” with their “reckless” policies.
Speaking in his end-of-year speech, the North Korean leader said: “Because of reckless moves by the enemies to invade us, it is a fait accompli that a war can break out at any time on the Korean peninsula.”
Kim warned that the alliance with the US had made South Korea a “forward military base and nuclear arsenal.
The Pyongyang leader said his forces would need to prepare to “pacify the entire territory of South Korea” in the event of any attack from Seoul or its allies.
Responding to the threat, the South Korean government insisted that “the Kim Jong-un regime will face its end” should North Korea’s military strike.
