South Korean Hyunmu-3C Cruise Missile Can Strike Deep Inside in North Korea

By Kwang-Tae Kim (CP)

South Korea has developed a long-range cruise missile capable of striking nuclear sites and military targets in North Korea, news reports said Saturday.The Hyunmu-3C missile has a range of 930 miles (1,500 kilometres), the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported, citing the August edition of its sister magazine Monthly Chosun.

The new missile, if confirmed, would be the longest-range weapon in South Korea's arsenal. Missile-range limits have been agreed upon under an accord with the United States, which has cited concerns over a possible regional arms race.

The surface-to-surface missile will be deployed along the border with North Korea beginning this year, the newspaper said. It has a 990-pound (450-kilogram) payload and can hit within 2 yards (meters) of its target, the report said.Despite the agreement with the United States, South Korea can develop long-range cruise missiles as long as the payload is under 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms).

The Hyunmu-3C missile would also have the capability of hitting parts of China, Japan and Russia.

Yonhap news agency carried a similar story. Both reports cited unidentified military officials.A spokesman for the Defence Acquisition Program Administration said he could neither confirm nor deny the reports. He spoke on condition of anonymity citing policy. A Defence Ministry spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

North Korea already has long-range missiles. The Taepodong-2 has a potential range of more than 4,100 miles (6,700 kilometres), putting Alaska within striking distance.North and South Korea remain technically in a state of conflict because the armistice ending the 1950-53 Korean War was never replaced by a peace treaty.-Canadian Press

Posted in: Missile,South Korea