Fears Kim Jong-un may order electromagnetic pulse attack

Fears are mounting that Kim Jong-un may order a crippling electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack on Seoul’s financial infrastructure.

South Korea’s national banks are now reportedly looking into setting up data centres abroad as well as reinforced repositories.

An EMP is a burst of high-intensity radio waves emitted from nuclear explosions in the upper atmosphere that scrambles electronics, much like a sudden power surge can overload a power outlet.

Fears are mounting that Kim Jong-un may order a crippling electromagnetic pulse (EMP) attack on Seoul’s financial infrastructure

But an EMP is far, far worse. A nuclear bomb detonated high in the atmosphere has the potential to knock out the South Korea’s financial institutions. 

‘Current regulations prohibit the transfer of client information overseas, so we are discussing ways to revise those rules so we can set up data back-up centres abroad’, a financial official told the Korea Herald, according to The Sun.  

According to the paper, the country is also on alert for EMP strikes on its nuclear power stations, government ministries and airlines. 

The news comes as North Korea warned the US its ‘belligerent bravado’ will only ‘erupt our will for revenge’ after America flew bombers and fighter jets close to the country’s border.

According to reports, there are also concerns North Korea could target South Korea's nuclear power stations, airlines and government ministries

According to reports, there are also concerns North Korea could target South Korea’s nuclear power stations, airlines and government ministries

North Korea has warned the US its 'belligerent bravado' will only 'erupt our will for revenge' after America flew bombers and fighter jets close to the country's border. Dictator Kim Jong-un is pictured at a rocket launch earlier this month

North Korea has warned the US its ‘belligerent bravado’ will only ‘erupt our will for revenge’ after America flew bombers and fighter jets close to the country’s border. Dictator Kim Jong-un is pictured at a rocket launch earlier this month

The Pentagon said the squadron’s flypast was the farthest north of the Korean Demilitarized Zone that any U.S. fighter jet or bomber has flown in the 21st century.

Pyongyang has finally responded to the military exercise, on Saturday, by calling it an ‘extremely dangerous act, designed to drive the situation of the Korean Peninsula to extremes’.

It comes as experts warned that the rapid progress in nuclear tests ordered by tyrant Kim Jong-un poses a new level of threat to the international community. 

In a show of force on Saturday, U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer bombers escorted by fighters flew east of North Korea.

In a night-time mission on Saturday a group of B-1B Lancer bombers (pictured in a file image) flew further up North Korea's coastline than any US plane has gone this century

In a night-time mission on Saturday a group of B-1B Lancer bombers (pictured in a file image) flew further up North Korea’s coastline than any US plane has gone this century

The supersonic B-1B bombers have elaborate electronic countermeasures and are usually escorted by four F-15 fighters, which are likely to prevail in any air combat with North Korea’s aging air force, said Bruce Bennett, a military expert at the Rand Corporation think tank.

Today, a state-run North Korean propaganda outlet slammed the exercise and called it an ‘anti-Pyongyang provocation that cannot be overlooked in the least.’

In a commentary called ‘Provocative behavior that arouses tens of millions of people’s will for revenge’, overseas media outlet Uriminzokkiri said: ‘The U.S. belligerent bravado will only fiercely erupt our will for revenge.’

Experts have warned that the rapid progress in nuclear tests ordered by tyrant Kim Jong-un poses a new level of threat to the international community. A North Korean rocket launch is pictured earlier this month

Experts have warned that the rapid progress in nuclear tests ordered by tyrant Kim Jong-un poses a new level of threat to the international community. A North Korean rocket launch is pictured earlier this month

The South Korean army's K-1 tanks move during a military exercise in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea

The South Korean army’s K-1 tanks move during a military exercise in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea

Meanwhile, South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has warned the North is ‘highly likely’ to launch fresh military provocations.

She said Pyongyang’s speed in advancing its nuclear and missiles was ‘faster than expected’ and that the rapid progress was ‘very worrisome’.

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukiya Amano, said North Korea’s sixth nuclear test – carried out on September 3 – shows that Pyongyang poses a new level of threat to the international community. 

According to Yonhap, he said: ‘We do not have the capacity to determine if it was a hydrogen bomb or not.

‘But it is obvious the yield (of the recent test) was much bigger than the previous ones. It means that North Korea made a very rapid progress

‘Combined with other elements, this is a new threat and this is a global threat.’

JAPAN ON ALERT AHEAD OF NORTH KOREA ANNIVERSARY 

Japan has warned North Korea could carry out more provocations in a matter of days to coincide with a national anniversary.

Defence minister Itsunori Onodera said October 10 marked the start of the North Korean communist party and that the regime could use it as an opportunity to stage another test.

‘I understand it is an important anniversary for North Korea. We would like to maintain a sense of urgency.’

North Korea has often used significant dates in its calendar to stage weapons tests and military parades.

On September 9 last year, its founding anniversary, Kim Jong-un ordered the country’s fifth nuclear test.

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