Seoul: North Korea's New Missile is Stronger than Previous Missiles

The South Korean Ministry of Defense states that evidence suggests the missile recently launched by North Korea is stronger than the missile tested in 2012. With a range of 12,000 kilometers, much of the U.S. territory is within reach of the new missile. North Korea claims that the missile launched on February 6 was carrying a satellite that has been placed in space. From the perspective of countries like the U.S. and its allies, this act is seen as a ballistic missile test, which constitutes a violation of UN Security Council sanctions. China has also expressed regret over South Korea's actions. However, the comments from a South Korean defense official on February 8 regarding the new missile being 'stronger' came a day after Washington and Seoul announced discussions on deploying an advanced defense system, which has faced immediate objections from China. According to the official South Korean news agency Yonhap, the launched missile successfully placed the satellite it carried into space, although it is unclear whether the satellite will be able to perform any functions. According to the South Korean defense official, the new missile resembles the 'Unha-3' but appears to have achieved a range of 12,000 kilometers. In December 2012, North Korea successfully launched the Unha-3 missile. Estimates indicate that the third generation of the Unha missile has a range of about 10,000 kilometers, which is 2,000 kilometers less than the current missile. The French news agency also quoted an official from the South Korean Ministry of Defense as saying, 'In any case, we need further research on its capabilities, including its exact range.' Both news agencies reported that Pyongyang has not yet succeeded in acquiring the technology necessary to convert the current missile into an intercontinental offensive missile, which is required to protect the warhead from the heat of the missile and prevent its destruction before hitting the intended target.