Posted on 10/16/2009 12:26:34 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
South Korea has deployed new longer-range cruise missiles that could reach not only North Korea but also parts of China and Japan, a news report said Thursday. Munhwa Ilbo newspaper said Seoul began mass-producing the "Hyunmu-3" missiles with a range of 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) early this year.
The paper, quoting US and South Korean government sources, said the missile was developed in 2006 and tested for two years before being deployed.
"Its development and deployment had been kept confidential because Japan, China and other neighbouring nations could react sensitively," the source said.
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) would neither confirm nor deny the Munhwa report. The defence ministry declined to comment.
South Korea has pushed for longer-range weaponry to counter a threat from hundreds of North Korean ballistic missiles.
Under an agreement with the United States, which stations 28,500 troops in South Korea and guarantees a nuclear "umbrella" in case of war, Seoul limits its ballistic missiles to a maximum range of 300 km.
(Excerpt) Read more at spacewar.com ...
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