South Korea to Build Own Long-Range Air-to-Ground Missiles - Reports

South Korea will develop long-range air-to-ground missiles to effectively defend itself from growing North Korean military threats, South Korean agency Yonhap reported Wednesday with reference to the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA).

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — DAPA will study missile technologies in order to build around 200 air-to-surface Taurus-class missiles by 2031. They will be mounted on the KF-X fighter jets which are expected to be produced by mid-2020s. Creation of the missiles will cost South Korea approximately 810 billion won ($695.2 million).

The country is currently utilizing German air-to-ground guided missiles produced by Taurus Systems GmbH.

The Korean Peninsula formally remains in a state of war since the 1950-1953 Korean War ended in an armistice, but not a final peaceful settlement.

On September 5, Pyongyang launched three ballistic missiles in the direction of the Sea of Japan. Several days later it conducted a successful test of a nuclear warhead, which is believed to be the fifth and largest blast since Pyongyang began pursuing nuclear and ballistic missile programs. On October 14, North Korea carried out a failed test of the Musadan intermediate-range ballistic missile near the northwestern city of Kusong.