South Korea moves closer to Kim Jong-Un ‘elimination plan’

South Korea is speeding up its plans to create a military force tasked with eliminating Pyongyang’s leadership - including Kim Jong-Un - in the event of war.The special unit was originally supposed to be ready by 2019, but the plans are being accelerated amid a tide of aggressive rhetoric from its rival and neighbour North Korea, which has been threatening nuclear attacks on its enemies.South Korea’s defence minister Han Min-Koo said the special unit, known as the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) plan, would now be launched two years ahead of schedule.

We are planning to set up a special brigade with the goal of removing or (at least) paralysing North Korea’s wartime command structure.

Han Min-Koo, defence minister

Mr Kim used his televised New Year’s message to boast his country was in the final stages of developing a long-range missile. In response, US President-elect Donald Trump tweeted: “It won’t happen.” North Korea conducted two nuclear tests and test-fired several ballistic missiles in 2016. It has continued to attempt to expand its nuclear weapons and missile programme in the face of international condemnation and UN sanctions.