On June 3rd, South Korea test-launched a new ballistic missile that could hit all of North Korea.
The office of President Park Geun Hye shared it was developed under a 2012 agreement with the United States that lets Seoul extend the weapon’s range to up to 800 kilometers. The president made a rare visit to a missile base on the west coast to watch the launch of the guided missile, which will be a key part of the South’s defence against its neighbor’s nuclear and missile threat.
“The test demonstrated improved ballistic missile capability that can strike all parts of North Korea swiftly, and with precision, in the event of armed aggression or provocation,” the Blue House said.
The South Korean President emphasized the deterrence capability of the new weapon: “North Korea will have no choice but to come forward for dialogue rather than provocation.”
The launch comes a month after the North said it test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile, although experts doubt the truth behind this claim.
In 2012, North Korea successfully launched what is generally considered a long-range rocket, putting what it said was a satellite into orbit. The North called it a space launch vehicle, but the international community said it was a missile, violating U.N. Security Council resolutions. The North is currently under various sanctions for its missile and three nuclear tests.
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Source: The Diplomat, Koogle, and RT
