US to allow South Korea longer-range missiles
Source: Agencies |
October 8, 2012, Monday
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The United States has agreed to allow South Korea to possess longer-range missiles that could strike all of North Korea.
Under a 2001 accord with the US, South Korea has been barred from developing and deploying ballistic missiles with a range of more than 300 kilometers and a payload of more than 500 kilograms because of concerns about a regional arms race.
The restriction has made South Korea's missile capability inferior to that of rival North Korea, and some key military installations have been out of South Korea's missile range.
South Korea announced yesterday that the US accord had been altered to allow the country to have ballistic missiles with a range of up to 800 kilometers to better cope with North Korea's "nuclear and missile threats."
Under the new agreement, South Korea will continue to limit the payload to 500 kilograms for ballistic missiles with an 800 kilometer range, but it will be able to use heavier payloads for missiles with shorter ranges, senior presidential official Chun Yung-woo said yesterday. The heavier a payload is, the more destructive power it can have.
"The most important objective for our government in revising the missile guideline is to contain North Korea's armed provocation," Chun said.
The Defense Ministry said in a statement that it will greatly increase its missile capability under the new accord, adding that South Korea will be able to "strike all of North Korea, even from southern areas."
US Defense Department press secretary George Little said yesterday that the agreement resulted from a South Korean-requested discussion on ways to respond to North Korean missile activities.
"These revisions are a prudent, proportional, and specific response to the ballistic missile threat," he said.
The deal also allows South Korea to operate drone aircraft with payloads of up to 2,500 kilograms with a range of more than 300 kilometers. It places no restriction on payloads for drones with a flying distance of less than 300 kilometers, officials said.
South Korea can also possess cruise missiles with an unlimited range as long as their payload is less than 500 kilograms. Media reports say South Korea has deployed cruise missiles with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers but defense officials have refused to confirm that.
Cruise missiles fly at a lower altitude and slower speed than ballistic missiles.
North Korea has missiles that can hit South Korea, Japan and the US Pacific territory of Guam, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry.
In April, North Korea conducted a long-range rocket test that the US, South Korea and sine other countries called a cover for a test of long-range missile technology. North Korea says the rocket, which broke apart shortly after liftoff, was meant to launch a satellite.
North Korea conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, but experts don't believe it has mastered the technology needed to put a nuclear weapon on a missile.
Under a 2001 accord with the US, South Korea has been barred from developing and deploying ballistic missiles with a range of more than 300 kilometers and a payload of more than 500 kilograms because of concerns about a regional arms race.
The restriction has made South Korea's missile capability inferior to that of rival North Korea, and some key military installations have been out of South Korea's missile range.
South Korea announced yesterday that the US accord had been altered to allow the country to have ballistic missiles with a range of up to 800 kilometers to better cope with North Korea's "nuclear and missile threats."
Under the new agreement, South Korea will continue to limit the payload to 500 kilograms for ballistic missiles with an 800 kilometer range, but it will be able to use heavier payloads for missiles with shorter ranges, senior presidential official Chun Yung-woo said yesterday. The heavier a payload is, the more destructive power it can have.
"The most important objective for our government in revising the missile guideline is to contain North Korea's armed provocation," Chun said.
The Defense Ministry said in a statement that it will greatly increase its missile capability under the new accord, adding that South Korea will be able to "strike all of North Korea, even from southern areas."
US Defense Department press secretary George Little said yesterday that the agreement resulted from a South Korean-requested discussion on ways to respond to North Korean missile activities.
"These revisions are a prudent, proportional, and specific response to the ballistic missile threat," he said.
The deal also allows South Korea to operate drone aircraft with payloads of up to 2,500 kilograms with a range of more than 300 kilometers. It places no restriction on payloads for drones with a flying distance of less than 300 kilometers, officials said.
South Korea can also possess cruise missiles with an unlimited range as long as their payload is less than 500 kilograms. Media reports say South Korea has deployed cruise missiles with a range of more than 1,000 kilometers but defense officials have refused to confirm that.
Cruise missiles fly at a lower altitude and slower speed than ballistic missiles.
North Korea has missiles that can hit South Korea, Japan and the US Pacific territory of Guam, according to the South Korean Defense Ministry.
In April, North Korea conducted a long-range rocket test that the US, South Korea and sine other countries called a cover for a test of long-range missile technology. North Korea says the rocket, which broke apart shortly after liftoff, was meant to launch a satellite.
North Korea conducted nuclear tests in 2006 and 2009, but experts don't believe it has mastered the technology needed to put a nuclear weapon on a missile.
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