S Korea announces US missile deal

07 October 2012 | 21:50 Code : 1907710 Latest Headlines

South Korea has announced a new missile deal with the United States to almost triple the range of South Korean ballistic missiles to cover all of North Korea.

Seoul made the announcement on Sunday over the agreement which will allow the South to deploy missiles with a range of 800 kilometers (500 miles), up from the current limit of 300 kilometers.

National Security Adviser Chun Yung-Woo said the extension will not only bring the whole of North Korea within reach of Seoul's rockets, but also parts of China and Japan.

On Friday, South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan had said negotiations between Seoul and Washington on the new missile agreement were in the final stage.

Tensions have been high between the two Koreas since two South Korean marines and two construction workers were killed on November 23, 2010, after North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells onto the populated small island of Yeonpyeong.

The attack set more than 60 houses ablaze and sent civilians fleeing in terror.

Seoul demanded an apology from North Korea over the deadly shelling of the island, while Pyongyang said it shelled the area as a result of provocations by Seoul.

South Korea is still technically at war with the North since the 1950-1953 Korean War ended in an armistice, not a peace treaty, with neither side able to claim outright victory.