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North Korea could have tested 'Scud missile'
A barrage of ballistic missiles that North Korea test-fired over the weekend may have included a new type of Scud missile with an extended range and improved accuracy that poses a threat to Japan, a South Korean newspaper reported on Monday.
- AP
- Published: 20:18 July 6, 2009
Seoul: A barrage of ballistic missiles that North Korea test-fired over the weekend may have included a new type of Scud missile with an extended range and improved accuracy that poses a threat to Japan, a South Korean newspaper reported on Monday.
Pyongyang launched seven missiles into waters off its east coast on Saturday in a show of force that defied UN resolutions and drew international condemnation.
On Monday, South Korea's mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported the launches were believed to have included three Scud-ER missiles with a range of up to 1,000km.
The paper said the Scud-ER has a longer range and better accuracy compared with previous Scud series so is "particularly a threat to Japan".
Tokyo is about 1,160km from the base on North Korea's east coast from where the missiles were fired. Some other parts of Japan are closer, well within the range of a Scud-ER.
Scuds are single stage, liquid-fuel missiles, originally developed in the former Soviet Union, and generally known for poor accuracy. Ballistic missile programmes in Pakistan and Iran were built on Scud technology.
Chosun Ilbo, citing a government source it did not name, said the other four missiles were two Scud-C missiles with a range of 500km and two medium-range Rodong missiles that can travel up to 1,300km.
Five of the seven missiles flew about 420km from an eastern coastal launch site and landed in one area, meaning their accuracy has improved, the paper said.
South Korea's Defence Ministry spokesman Won Tae-jae said yesterday that the North demonstrated improved missile accuracy in the latest tests because they all landed in the same area.
He declined to confirm details of the Chosun Ilbo report.
Another ministry official said on Sunday that the missiles appeared to have travelled about 400km, meaning that key government and military facilities in South Korea were within range. The official spoke on condition of anonymity citing department policy.
North Korea has long-range missiles as well. The Taepodong-2 has a potential range of more than 6,700km putting Alaska within striking distance.
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