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North Korea Developing New Long-Range Missile
North Korea is developing a new long-range ballistic missile that may be capable of hitting the U.S. territory of Guam, a Japanese official said Wednesday. The new missile, believed to have been displayed at a recent North Korean military parade, may be able to cruise up to 3,100 miles at medium altitudes, a defense ministry official said on condition of anonymity, citing protocol. Local media reports have dubbed the missile the Musudan and say it is an advance over North Korea's current arsenal of Rodong and Taepodong I missiles, which have shorter ranges. It is reportedly based on a Russian submarine-launched missile. "We acknowledge that such a new type of missile is being developed by North Korea in addition to the existing missiles," the Defense Ministry official said.
Story Continues Below The comments confirm similar statements reportedly made Monday by Vice Minister Takemasa Moriya. On Tuesday, Defense Minister Fumio Kyuma said Japan and the United States need to boost missile defense technology to guard against the new threat. A South Korean news report last month said North Korea had displayed at a recent military parade a newly developed medium-range ballistic missile capable of reaching the U.S. territory of Guam. Analysts suggest it was meant as a show of strength toward Washington, which is locked in a dispute with Pyongyang over the North's nuclear program.
Japan was stunned in 1998 when North Korea launched a missile over Japan, and in July 2006 when it test-fired a series of other missiles into the Sea of Japan. North Korea also exploded an underground nuclear device in October, further boosting anxiety among Japanese.
© 2007 Associated Press.
Editor's note:
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