South Korea has 'military plan to remove Kim Jong-un from power'

Specialist unit would target North Korean leader in event of war between the two nations

Kim Jong-Un's recent nuclear test caused great concern in South Korea (AP)

South Korea is planning to assemble a military force aimed at removing Kim Jong-un from power, according to the country’s defence minister.

Han Min-koo reportedly told the National Assembly in Seoul a unit would be put together to target the North Korean leader in the event of war between the two nations, in a process he labelled ‘the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation’ (KMPR).

The KMPR plan would be put into action as part of a three-pronged defence strategy including South Korea’s anti-missile system and ‘Kill Chain’, a pre-emptive military strike programme devised in 2014.

The minister said South Korea should maintain an army of 500,000 soldiers on active duty to counter the threat of the North’s estimated 1.2 million troops, should Kim Jong Un choose to invade.

“If it becomes clear the enemy intends to use nuclear-tipped missiles, in order to suppress its aims, the concept of the KMPR squad is to retaliate against key areas that include the North Korean leadership,” Mr Han said, according to local broadcaster News 1.

South Korea’s major parties have united on the issue of nuclear weaponry, with the opposition leader saying that if China and Russia failed to “join sanctions against North Korea’s nuclear development”, weapons must be deployed.

Seoul described a recent nuclear test by the North as an “act of fanatic recklessness”.

South Korean president Park Geun-hye said the test was a sign that leader Kim was “spiralling out of control”, and promised new defence programmes to protect the safety of citizens in the South.