North Korea Close To Making New Missiles Operational

This year the North has tested a series of short-range missiles. On June 27, it fired ground-to-ground and ground-to-ship missiles with a range of about 100 kilometres (60 miles).

by Staff Writers
Seoul (AFP) Jul 07, 2007
North Korea has successfully tested new short-range missiles and is close to making them operational, posing a threat to South Korea and Japan, a senior US defence official said. Yonhap news agency quoted Richard Lawless, outgoing deputy undersecretary of defence as saying: "We have a problem with the new system because it's much more accurate, it's much more survivable than the huge Scud force ... already targeted on (South Korea)."

Lawless, speaking to reporters Friday in Washington, said the US was "talking actively" to the South Korean government, and both governments viewed the matter with concern.

"You have for the first time in the North Korean inventory a solid-fuel, highly mobile, highly accurate system whose only purpose, given its range, is to strike (South Korea)," he was quoted as saying.

In July last year the North test-fired seven missiles, including the Taepodong-2, which in theory could reach the US west coast.

This year the North has tested a series of short-range missiles. On June 27, it fired ground-to-ground and ground-to-ship missiles with a range of about 100 kilometres (60 miles).

South Korea's defence ministry said the latest launches were aimed at testing and developing new ballistic missiles.

North Kora's missile launches have heightened tensions in the region in the past decade. In 1998 North Korea sparked alarm in Japan by test-firing a long-range missile over that country.

Some analysts in Seoul say the North, after staging its first nuclear test last October, might be preparing the ground for another long-range missile test.

Japan's defence report published Friday warned that North Korea is improving its missile system to cover all east Asia, including Japan, and potentially reach the northern tip of Australia as well as part of Alaska.

The North's ballistic missiles "are now regarded as more practical," it said.

Source: Agence France-Presse

Community
Email This Article
Comment On This Article

Related Links
Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com
All about missiles at SpaceWar.com

MISSILE NEWS

Lockheed Martin Receives 18 Million USD For Low Cost Reduced-Range GMLRS Practice Rockets

Dallas TX (SPX) Jun 29, 2007
Lockheed Martin has received an $18 million contract for Low Cost Reduced-Range Practice Rockets (LCRRPR) for the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS). The contract calls for the delivery of 4,350 practice rockets for Soldiers training to use GMLRS, for which the Army has declared an urgent in-theater need. Production on the contract will occur at the company's facility in Camden, AR.

SUPERPOWERS US And Russia Begin Nuclear Reduction Talks Eyeing The Shanghai Group In 2007 Russia Warns NATO Over European Security As Topol Nuke Production Ramps Up US Ready To Work On New Treaty To Replace START Treaty	NUKEWARS Korea After Unification North Korea Says May Shut Down Nuclear Reactor Early Missiles In Kaliningrad Mixed Signals From Iran
MISSILE NEWS North Korea Close To Making New Missiles Operational Lockheed Martin Receives 18 Million USD For Low Cost Reduced-Range GMLRS Practice Rockets North Korea Tests New Missiles As Inspectors Head To Nuclear Reactor General Dynamics To Demonstrate Ground-Based Counter-MANPADS Aircraft-Protection Technology	MISSILE DEFENSE ABM And The Geostrategic Interests Of Azerbaijan Japan Makes Missile Defence Shield Priority Boeing Could Build Missile Base In Poland Japan PM Seeking Leeway To Shoot Down Missile For US
AEROSPACE Europe Bans All Indonesian Airlines From EU Airspace Too Little Scope For Development Of Current Aircraft Technology France Supports Cap On Airline Carbon Emissions F-35 Lightning 2 Pushing Ahead On All Fronts	UAV NEWS Puma Small UAS Achieves Record Flight Time Using Fuel Cell Battery Hybrid System Predators Reach Quarter-Million Flight Hours Boeing Demonstrates Autonomous Command And Control Of Multiple UAVs Northrop Grumman Hunter Clocks Up 50000 Hours Flight Time
IRAQ WARS The Invisible Refugees Of Iraq The Soft Partition Of Iraq Senate Will Not Sway Bush On Iraq The Iraqi Refugee Disaster	MILTECH Raytheon Wins Whole-Life Support Contract For Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment Systems Sandia Supports Development Of New US Army Cannon System NGC Lab To Develope Prototype For Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System Raytheon-Led Warrior Training Alliance Wins US Army Warfighter FOCUS Program

The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2006 - SpaceDaily.AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA PortalReports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additionalcopyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any Web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement