South Korea test-fires missiles capable of striking all of North Korea
South Korea has successfully test-fired two domestically built ballistic missiles that can hit all of North Korea, officials said, amid continuing animosity between the countries over the North’s push to bolster its nuclear and missile capabilities.
Advertisement
The missiles, which have a reported range of more than 300 miles, were fired from a southern launch pad, said an official at Seoul’s defence ministry. President Park Geun-hye watched the launches, according to her office.
There was no immediate response from North Korea, which is heavily sanctioned for its past long-range rocket and nuclear tests and considers US and South Korean military drills and tests preparation for an attack.
South Korea struck a deal with the US in 2002 that allows Seoul to possess longer-range missiles to better cope with North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.
The North’s recent claim to have test-fired a missile from a submarine caused security worries among many South Koreans who suspect Pyongyang is working on harder-to-detect means to launch attacks.
The North also recently reiterated its claim that it had built a nuclear warhead small enough to be mounted on a long-range missile.
Foreign analysts are sceptical about both claims but agree that North Korea has made progress in its efforts to possess a nuclear-tipped missile that can threaten the US and South Korea. International disarmament talks on the North’s atomic weapons programme remain stalled.
The 2012 US deal allows South Korea to possess ballistic missiles with a range of up to 500 miles. A previous 2001 accord with Washington had barred South Korea from deploying ballistic missiles with a range of more than 186 miles because of concerns about a regional arms race.
The Korean peninsula remains officially at war because the 1950-53 Korean war ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. The US stations about 28,500 troops in South Korea as deterrence against possible aggression from North Korea.