(Korea Herald/ANN) — Seoul’s Defense Ministry said Monday it has continued to reinforce its missile defense system while maintaining that further analysis is needed to determine whether the short-range missiles fired by North Korea last week were ballistic missiles.
Since North Korea fired multiple projectiles into the East Sea on May 4 and Thursday, the South Korean government has delayed revealing what projectiles were involved. The ministry confirmed that Thursday’s launches involved two short-range missiles, but did not clarify whether they were ballistic or cruise missiles.
As concerns are rising over military capabilities to identify and defend against missile threats, the Defense Ministry said it is constructing a defense system that can effectively deal with any kind of threat.
“(South Korea’s) military has been building a missile defense system from 10 years ago. We will continue to construct a terminal phase intercepting defense system based on the Patriot (missile defense system). And will continue to reinforce our missile defense capability,” Defense Ministry spokeswoman Choi Hyun-soo said during a regular press meeting.
North Korea fired multiple projectiles into the sea on May 4, which it called a “regular strike drill.” The communist regime also said it fired a new “tactical guided weapon.” On Thursday, two short-range missiles separately flew 270 kilometers and 420 kilometers from Kusong, North Pyongan Province, across North Korea to splash into the East Sea.
Experts say the type of projectiles fired on the two occasions may be the same, and that it is the North Korean version of the Iskander, a Russian tactical ballistic missile. The solid-fueled missile has two variants, and it is believed that North Korea may have upgraded the export version to raise the range from 280 kilometers to around 500 kilometers -- putting almost all parts of South Korea in its range.
Although the final analysis has yet to confirm whether North Korea launched ballistic missiles, pundits say it would be difficult for Seoul to admit that the launches involved such missiles. North Korea is banned from launching any ballistic missile under the UN Security Council resolutions.
“It could play as a factor that could break all the diplomatic efforts made, aggravating the current stalemate in nuclear talks,” a military official said under the condition of anonymity.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in warned that the North’s launches of projectiles only raise tension and would make negotiations difficult. He also said resuming dialogue with the US is the only practical way to resolve the situation.
The Defense Ministry here expressed concerns, but did not say Pyongyang’s military actions violate the Comprehensive Military Agreement signed by the two Koreas to put a halt to all hostile acts on Sept. 19, 2018.
By Jo He-rim ([email protected])
