By Franz-Stefan Gady
The new missile can allegedly hit all of North Korea.
Yesterday, South Korea successfully test fired a ballistic missile capable of hitting targets anywhere in North Korea.
The launch, which took place at a missile base in Taean on the country’s western coast, was watched by South Korean President Park Geun-hye. “The test demonstrated improved ballistic missile capability that can strike all parts of North Korea swiftly, and with precision, in the event of armed aggression or provocation,” the Blue House said in a statement according to Reuters.
The South Korean President emphasized the deterrence capability of the new weapon,Yonhap, the South Korean news agency reported. “North Korea will have no choice but to come forward for dialogue rather than provocation, ”she said.
Ever since 2012, Seoul has been developing a new ballistic missile after the United States and South Korea concluded an agreement to extend the range of those weapons by up to 800 kilometers (about 500 miles) and carry warheads heavier than the pre-2012 limit of 500kg (1,102 pounds).
Read the full story at The Diplomat