South Korea's Air Force conducts live-fire drills with Taurus missile

The South Korean Air Force has carried out live-fire drills using the long-range air-to-surface Taurus missile.

This marks the first such exercise in seven years, coinciding with ongoing nuclear and missile threats from North Korea. During the tests, F-15K fighter jets launched the Taurus missile, which travelled 400 kilometres and successfully struck pre-designated targets in the Yellow Sea, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

South Korea last conducted a live-fire test in 2017 as a show of force following North Korea's sixth nuclear test. The Taurus missile can reach speeds of up to 1,163 kph, enabling it to target critical facilities in North Korea within 15 minutes when launched from near Seoul.

Featuring stealth technology, the missile is designed for precision strikes within three meters of its target and can penetrate reinforced concrete walls, making it effective against North Korea's underground bunkers. In addition to the live-fire drills, the Air Force conducted exercises to intercept cruise missiles, involving F-35A and KF-16 fighter jets. 

These drills occur amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula, exacerbated by North Korea's ongoing trash balloon campaign and the rare revelation of a uranium enrichment facility.

By Naila Huseynova