The nominee to become South Korea's next Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman says the military is keeping an eye on North Korea as it could soon fire off a submarine-launched ballistic missile.
Air Force General Won In-chul made the remark Wednesday in a written response to a question by People Power Party lawmaker Kang Dae-sik ahead of his confirmation hearing slated for Friday.
Kang asked Won if he thought the North would fire a SLBM on the occasion of the North's founding anniversary of its ruling Workers' Party in October.
But Won's comment ran counter to what defense minister nominee Suh Wook said Monday, that a test was unlikely.
Won also said he believes the regime has yet to procure atmospheric reentry technology for its intercontinental ballistic missiles.
He added that the South Korean military continues to work with U.S. Forces Korea to enhance its missile detection and interception abilities.
<Photo: Yonhap News>
