SEOUL, Oct. 2 (UPI) — Development and deployment of a ballistic missile with a 500-mile range — enough to hit any North Korean military target — is planned by South Korea.
The Korea Herald newspaper, quoting military sources, said deployment in anticipated by 2017.
“Currently, we have developed ballistic missiles with a range of up to 500 km (310 miles), and the plan means extending the range to 800 km (497 miles),” a military source said. “We are aiming to deploy the missile with an 800 km range by 2017.”
Under a U.S.-South Korea defense guideline, Seoul was limited to missiles with a maximum range of about 186 miles, which was increased in 2012 given North Korea’s increasing missile capabilities.
The North has a relatively large assortment of ballistic missiles that can threaten South Korea, Japan, and the United States. Among them: The Rodong ballistic missile, with a range of about 826 miles; and with a range of as much as 2,485 miles.
North Korea’s Taepodong-2 missile, which presumably can hit parts of Alaska, was tested in 2009.
