Posted on 04/07/2009 8:42:22 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Calls for Greater Missile Range for S.Korea
Views are gaining ground among politicians in Seoul that South Korea needs to extend the range of its ballistic missiles now that North Korea's launch of a long-range rocket has shown its own can fly thousands of miles.
South Korea is by agreement limited to missiles with a range of 300 km and a maximum payload of 500 kg.
Prime Minister Han Seung-soo on Monday hinted Seoul could seek a revision of the Korean-U.S. missile agreement, saying, "Now is the time to think seriously of this matter at bilateral defense ministers' talks." The current range does not even extend as far as the North's missile launch pad in Musudan-ri.
Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan in the National Assembly on Tuesday said, "At the moment, we're reviewing" a revision of the bilateral missile agreement. When Grand National Party lawmaker Gu Sang-chan asked if the aim of getting the North's missile capabilities under control, as set forth by South Korea when it acceded to the U.S.-led Missile Technology Control Regime in 2001, had been thwarted, Yu said yes.
Military experts say now is the right time to seek extension of the range of missiles. "I think that the U.S. now has a weaker justification for restricting the range of Korea's ballistic missiles, as the North's latest rocket launch proves," said former vice defense minister Park Yong-ok.
Seoul and Washington agreed on the missile guidelines in January 2001. The same year, Seoul also acceded to the MTCR which strictly bans member states from transferring missile-related technologies.
For the minimun, S. Korea should have medium range capability.
The day of payback will come when S. Korean and Japanese missiles are aimed on all Chinese East coast targets. So-called globalists busy giving bl*wjob to Chicom masters can just go to hell.
Ping!
It is a dirty rotten shame that South Korea and Japan can’t shake hands and be friends. It goes way back into their history of mutual persecution and both are a proud people. Maybe China and North Korea will force the issue.
Yes, it would be nice to see Seoul and Tokyo finally agree to be allies against the common enemy: China/DPRK. And for that matter, let’s add Taiwan to that alliance.
Somebody going be realllyyy roaney
The Korean peninsula is the most likely place for a war to start in the next 10 years. Once their Dear Leader dies, I wouldn’t be surprised if during a NK coup attempt rogue NK forces invaded South Korea. Japan and South Korea, we should allow both countries to develop their own nuclear deterrent. The overwhelming size of the North Korean army percludes a purely conventional response(there are only 28,500 US troops and 680,000 South Korean troops deployed to face a 1 million man North Korean army).
Maybe the key word in the scenario is “rogue.” Not the whole bloomin’ army.
Best case, starving NK people finally say “enough” and somebody has the heart to bring in humanitarian aid. (Possibly the US under President Sarah Palin)
Send them some Tomahawks.
NK has received hundreds of millions in humanitarian aid from the UN, China,Russia, South Korea, and Japan over the years. It only serves to prop up the regime since most of it goes to the party elites and the military industrial complex. You can bet those technicians who supported the missile launch this week are well-fed. Just not everyone else. In a totalitarian regime leading a starving people, there won’t be anyone to lead a revolution from the outside.
Medium range or beyond. Agreed.
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