







By Bahk Eun-ji







The South Korean Army launched Saturday a special operation force, the so-called "decapitation unit," to eliminate the North's leadership in case of war.







The "decapitation unit," known to be modeled after the U.S. Army Rangers, Delta Force, SEAL Team Six and Green Berets, is composed of around 1,000 soldiers and was established under the army's Special Warfare Command.







The brigade's mission is to eliminate the key figures of the North's regime including Kim and to destroy nuclear and missile facilities, according to the sources with knowledge of the process.







The exact name and mission of the brigade has not been specified by the Korean military official, but stressed that it will grow into the country's core of military strength.







The South Korean Army initially planned to launch the force in 2019, but decided to move up the schedule as North Korea continues to raise regional tensions with its ballistic missile launches and nuclear experiments.







The North fired a new type of intercontinental ballistic missile on Wednesday, which flew about 950 kilometers to an altitude of around 4,475 kilometers in its 53-minute flight. It landed in the sea 379 nautical miles off the coast of Japan.