Trump removes limit on payload of S. Korean ballistic missiles

By Lim Chang-won Posted : September 5, 2017, 09:34 Updated : September 5, 2017, 09:34

[Yonhap Photo]


By the benefit of North Korea's aggressive push for the development of nuclear weapons and missiles, South Korea has secured US approval to deploy powerful home-made ballistic missiles that can fly some 800 kilometers (496 miles) with no limit in its payload.

The greenlight came at a telephone conversation between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and US President Donald Trump who agreed on the "strongest pressure and sanctions" against North Korea, Moon's office said in a statement.

A 2012 missile accord allowed Seoul to extend the range of its ballistic missiles from 300 to 800 km but the maximum payload remained limited to 500 kilograms. To destroy North Korea's underground facilities, South Korea has sought a new accord to develop missiles capable of carrying a heavy and powerful payload.

The two Koreas have been locked in an arms race to develop missiles and other strategic weapons, with North Korea taking the upper hand in extending the range of ballistic missiles. South Korea has focused on guided systems with its inventory including the Hyunmoo-2A with a range of 300 km, the Hyunmoo-2B that can fly over 500 km, the Hyunmoo-2C with a range of 800 km, and the Hyunmoo-3 cruise missile with a range of 1,000 km.

South Korean missiles with precision strike have alarmed North Korea's leadership. From now, there will be no restrictions on the payload so that Seoul can deploy an upgraded version of its new Hyunmoo-2C that can fly beyond the border between North Korea and China.

"The two leaders agreed to remove the limit on the payload of South Korean missiles," the presidential statement said, adding Moon promised to speed up the deployment of an advanced missile shield brought in by US troops to intercept North Korean missiles.

 
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