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NKorea tests new solid-fuel missile, MP says
Seoul (AFP) Oct 11, 2007 North Korea has successfully tested a highly mobile short-range missile which could hit targets inside South Korea with chemical or explosive warheads, a lawmaker said Thursday. The communist state successfully launched the KN-02 missile in June, said Kim Hak-Song of the opposition Grand National Party, who is a member of parliament's defence committee. Quoting a recent report to parliament by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Kim said the missile has a range of 120 kilometres (75 miles). "The KN-O2 missile, as it runs on solid fuel, can be fired easily while being moved around. Its precision strike ability has also improved," Kim said in a statement. Missiles powered by solid fuel are easier to stockpile and can be fired quicker than those powered by liquid fuel. Kim said the KN-O2 can hit targets south of Seoul, including the site of a major new US military base at Pyeongtaek 70 kilometres south of the capital. The base would not be in range of the North's aged FROG missiles and guns deployed along the border. "Its payload is estimated at 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds) and it can carry chemical and highly explosive warheads," he said. General Burwell B. Bell, commander of US forces in South Korea, warned in July that the North was upgrading its arsenal to make its missiles more mobile and easier to launch. He said new short-range missiles were "advanced" weapons which could directly harm South Korea, its people and troops. "These are modern and solid-fuel, which means that they are easy to handle and rapidly capable of being fired," Bell said. "They are technically threatening to this nation...missiles of this nature could be used by any foreign nations to prosecute a tactical war." North Korea has sold about 100 missiles to Syria, Iran and other countries each year, Yonhap news agency said in a recent report. The United States has accused North Korea of being a leading global proliferator of weapons of mass destruction. In July last year, the North test-fired seven missiles, including the Taepodong-2 which in theory could reach the US west coast. The North carried out its first nuclear test in October 2006 but is not thought to have the technology to assemble a nuclear warhead for a missile. It has pledged to shut down its atomic programmes under an international accord. Related Links Learn about missile defense at SpaceWar.com All about missiles at SpaceWar.com
Taiwan unveils missiles at National Day parade
Taipei (AFP) Oct 10, 2007Taiwan flexed its military muscles Wednesday, showing off two home-developed missiles in a rare parade seen as a reminder to China that it has the weaponry to defend itself. |
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