The Sun is reporting that South Korea is ready to launch “blackout bombs” in the event North Korea starts a nuclear war. These bombs, also known as graphite bombs and BLU-114/Bs, are non-lethal weapons aimed at disabling electrical power systems.
Graphite bombs spread a cloud of extremely fine, chemically treated carbon filaments over electrical components, causing short-circuits and/or disruption to electrical supplies.
The Graphite bomb is an element of the “Kill Chain” preemptive strike program developed by South Korea’s Agency for Defense Development (ADD).
Military sources told the Yonhap news agency that the graphite bombs work by spreading chemically treated carbon filaments over electric facilities to short-circuit the grid.
The high-tech weapons have been developed by South Korea’s Agency for Defence Development (ADD), as one element of the “Kill Chain” preemptive strike program.
The program is designed to detect, identify and intercept incoming missiles in the shortest possible time.
It works with Korea’s Air and Missile Defence system.
A military official said: “All technologies for the development of a graphite bomb led by the ADD have been secured.
“It is at the stage where we can build the bombs at any time”.
The defence ministry has also requested next year’s budget include £340,000 for the project but the finance ministry did not accept it, he added.
The bomb is often referred to as a “soft bomb” since it only affects targeted electrical power systems.
It was first used by the US against Iraq in the 1990—1991 Gulf War and again by NATO against Serbia in 1999.
The threat comes after South Korea has continued to look for ways to boost its defensive capabilities against North Korea and its rogue leader Kim Jong-un.
Graphite bombs are not lethal to those living in surrounding areas.
Their development comes as South Korea is fast-tracking its “three pillars” of national defence by as much as three years.
The strategy was originally scheduled to be in place by the mid-2020s.