[Kyunghyang, Oct. 8] Korean Ballistic Missile Range Extended to 800-km

[아름드리 나무]

http://english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?artid=201210081336287&code=710100

Korean Ballistic Missile Range Extended to 800-km

By Park Yeong-hwan, Hong Jin-su

Posted on : 2012-10-08 13:36

South Korea's ballistic missile system range has increased to 800 kilometers from 300 kilometers, now having the whole of North Korea within the new range. 

South Korea can also triple the current payload of 500 kilograms to 1.5 tons, on the condition that the ranges should be reduced in proportion. In addition, the maximum load weight for an unmanned vehicle will be increased from 500 kilograms to 2.5 tons.

Presidential Security Aide Chun Woo-young said in a briefing to the press on October 7 that South Korea amended the Korea-US "missile guidelines" that had been in effect from 2001 with details mentioned above, communicating them to the United States on October 5. 

This pact is a voluntary policy statement by the Korean government and does not legally require consent from the United States, however, it has been established and revised after the consultation with the U.S.

Chun said, "Since last year, the two countries have discussed comprehensive measures to deter the nuclear and missile threats by North Korea and to promptly and effectively cope in the event of any attacks." He further commented, "With this amendment, we will be able to secure a certain level of capacity that can satisfy our future military demands."

The main point of the revised guidelines is that the "trade-off" principle remains intact so that the missile range and warhead weight may be increased only in proportion: the warhead can be heavier only if the range is reduced.

Since the distance from South Korea's Busan to North Korea's Najin/Hoeryung in North Hamgyeong Province is 800 kilometers, it means that the missile range now covers the whole of the Korean peninsula within its reach. Missiles launched from the central region of South Korea, where most of the missile bases are located, will be able to carry a payload over 1 ton with greater destructive force. 

Within the 300-kilometer range, the payload can be three times heavier than the existing 500 kilograms. Army Major General Shin Won-sik, Defense Ministry Policy Planning Officer, said, "The weight restriction has been virtually removed, as we can have over 1-ton heavy missiles in a 550-kilometer range, a distance quite significant from a military perspective." 

As unmanned aircraft with flying range of 300 kilometers or over can carry 2.5 tons of weapons, South Korea can now develop a global hawk (unmanned aerial vehicle) of its own. Meanwhile, there will be no restrictions on research and development of ballistic missiles and unmanned aircrafts that go beyond the range stipulated by the guidelines. 

As for cruise missiles, existing guidelines will be maintained: if the warhead should be 500 kilograms or less, there will be no restrictions on the range; if the range should be 300 kilometers or less, there will be no restrictions on the warhead weight.

The private sector has been asking that the restrictions on the use of solid fuel propellant for space launch vehicle be lifted but the issue has been excluded from this discussion.

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See also

http://english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view.html?artid=201210091354397&code=710100

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