Pyongyang is developing missiles capable of reaching the US, South
Korean officials have claimed. The allegations came as North Korean
leader Kim Jong-Un called for the development of more powerful rockets
after the successful launch of a satellite.
The North's launch of a three-stage Unha-3 rocket on December 12 prompted numerous allegations that the event was a secret missile test, rather than the purported satellite launch. South Korea has claimed that their analysis of the rocket's debris shows that Pyongyang may have developed technology allowing it to mount a nuclear warhead on a long-range missile.
"Based on our analysis of the material of Unha-3, North Korea had secured a range of more than 10,000 km if the warhead is 500 to 600 kg," a South Korean Defense Ministry official said on Sunday.
If the claims are true, North Korea has developed missiles capable of reaching the US.
South Korea said Sunday that it had retrieved the key parts of the rocket's first stage, except for the engine. The parts recovered included the fuel tank – which displayed the digit '3' – a chemical combustion chamber and an engine connection rod, officials reported.
An analysis of the parts will provide a clearer picture of North Korean advances in rocket technology, experts said.
They acknowledged, however, that there was no evidence that the North Korean rocket had the guidance systems or re-entry capability necessary for an effective intercontinental ballistic missile.
A study of the oxidizer container from the splashdown site of the Unha-3 revealed that the welding of the rocket was “crude, done manually,” a South Korean official said. Nations with advanced space technology rarely use such technology now, he added.
On Friday, Kim Jong-Un met with rocket scientists and urged them to advance the country`s long-range rocket program, North Korean state media reported.
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The North's launch of a three-stage Unha-3 rocket on December 12 prompted numerous allegations that the event was a secret missile test, rather than the purported satellite launch. South Korea has claimed that their analysis of the rocket's debris shows that Pyongyang may have developed technology allowing it to mount a nuclear warhead on a long-range missile.
"Based on our analysis of the material of Unha-3, North Korea had secured a range of more than 10,000 km if the warhead is 500 to 600 kg," a South Korean Defense Ministry official said on Sunday.
If the claims are true, North Korea has developed missiles capable of reaching the US.
South Korea said Sunday that it had retrieved the key parts of the rocket's first stage, except for the engine. The parts recovered included the fuel tank – which displayed the digit '3' – a chemical combustion chamber and an engine connection rod, officials reported.
An analysis of the parts will provide a clearer picture of North Korean advances in rocket technology, experts said.
They acknowledged, however, that there was no evidence that the North Korean rocket had the guidance systems or re-entry capability necessary for an effective intercontinental ballistic missile.
A study of the oxidizer container from the splashdown site of the Unha-3 revealed that the welding of the rocket was “crude, done manually,” a South Korean official said. Nations with advanced space technology rarely use such technology now, he added.
On Friday, Kim Jong-Un met with rocket scientists and urged them to advance the country`s long-range rocket program, North Korean state media reported.
Read Full Article>>>