Asia-Pacific

ROK seeks longer-range missiles - report

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-01-20 17:02

SEOUL - South Korea is seeking clearance from the United States to make its own ballistic missile capable of hitting the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the South's Yonhap news agency quoted a government official as saying on Wednesday.

Seoul wants to a revise a pact it agreed with Washington in 2001 which limits its production of ballistic missiles to a range of up to 300 km and a payload of up to 500 kg, the report said.

"South Korea and the US have been engaged in negotiations to extend the missile range since late last year," the unnamed source told Yonhap, adding the two sides have a "common understanding" on the matter.

"As the talks are still at an early stage, it is too early to say how long the missile range could be extended," the source said. "But there is a need to extend it beyond 1,000 km."

Government officials in Seoul declined comment on the report.