North’s submarines go off the radar (North Korea)

Korea Joongang Daily ^ | May ?, 2012 | Jeong Yong-soo, Kim Hee-jin

[dynachrome]

After Pyongyang threatened to wage “special action” against Seoul, a number of North Korean submarines have disappeared, a South Korean government official told the JoongAng Ilbo.

“Eight or nine submarines of the North’s East Sea Fleet are missing from our radar,” the high-ranking South Korean official said on Monday. “We are figuring out whether the submarines are conducting a military drill or an actual mission.

“The missing submarines vary in size, from the 1,000-ton shark-class vessel to a former Soviet Romeo-class one (1,300 ton),” the official added.

Military sources say that North Korea currently owns roughly 70 submarines, including the 1,500-ton Rajin-class vessels or Yugo-class infiltration coastal ships. When North Korean submarines are anchored at base, they can be seen by a satellite.

It’s been more than a week since the North publicly threatened to attack Seoul, saying they will stage special military action in an unprecedented, “peculiar” way.

Police have beefed up security near local broadcasting and newspaper companies, which North Korea has pinpointed as “sources of provocation,” to counter a possible military attack.

[rmlew]

The ROK Navy has 11 Type 209 submarines and 3 Type 214 submarines.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

While the MK-48 torpedo is positively a *mother*, what we need here is something more discreet. It doesn’t even have to be too high tech.

Someone suggested putting a very large concrete block on a surface ship, with heavy cables through the block. Then as the Nork boat passes nearby disable its screws with heavy fishing net connected to those cables. Then drop the concrete block overboard, dragging the sub due south, butt first.

The only sound that is heard on sonar is the pop when it hits crush depth. And even if someone decides to inspect the wreck, all they will find is fishing net.