North Korea develops long range missile - report
North Korea has developed a long range missile capable of targeting all of Japan and the US territory of Guam, a South Korean newspaper reported today.
Chosun Ilbo, one of South Korea’s leading newspapers, quoted an unidentified government official as saying that the ballistic missile, with a range of 1,850 miles to 2,470 miles, was developed last year but has not yet been deployed.
The missile’s range makes it more powerful than the 1,540-mile range Taepodong-1 missile that it test fired in 1998, which flew over Japan before falling into the Pacific Ocean. The North is believed to have an arsenal of up to 700 Rodong missiles, which can hit targets as far as 800 miles away.
South Korea’s Defence Ministry said it could not confirm the Chosun Ilbo report, which comes amid speculation in Washington that North Korea could carry out a nuclear test tomorrow, the 55th anniversary of the formation of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
North Korea admitted running a secret nuclear weapons programme last year. US officials believe the North may already possess one or two nuclear bombs and could produce more.
During last month’s six-nation meeting in Beijing on the North’s nuclear activities, North Korean delegate Kim Yong Il warned that his country could test a nuclear weapon and even prove that it had the means to deliver nuclear bombs.
North Korea relies on its military might as one of its few means of political leverage. The North’s 1.2 million-strong military, the world’s fifth largest, is the backbone of the country’s communist rule.
Tomorrow, some 20,000 troops, 150 tanks and other military vehicles are expected to be paraded through the capital, Pyongyang. Some 50,000 participants including the country’s leader Kim Jong Il will attend.
South Korea’s JoongAng Ilbo, another leading newspaper, said the parade is likely to feature the Rodong missile.
This will be the first time in several years that the North will hold one of its military parades, which had been set aside because of the country’s poor economy.
The regime also is planning other rallies, games and torch parades around the country to celebrate the anniversary, according to South Korean news reports.
Yesterday, South Korea’s foreign minister warned that further talks on North Korea’s suspected development of nuclear weapons would be affected if the communist state takes action to threaten the international community.
